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' The way was long, the wind was cold, 
The minstrel was infirm and old." 

Intkoduction. 



THE 



LAY OF THE LAST MINSTREL 



A POEM IN SIX CANTOS 



BY 



SIR WALTER SCOTT, Bart. 



JjElitf} rxUustrations 

15Y GARRKTr, HARPER, TAYLOR, SIIELTON 

AND OTHKRS 



f^c^ 



NKW YORK 

THOMAS Y. CROwr: 

13 ASTOK I'l.AC K 



\A. c\: CO. 




7^6" 3 0-1 



Copyright^ 

By T. Y. Crowell & Co, 

1884. 



/^-3f/3r 



RIGHT HONORABLE 

CHARLES, EARL OF DALKEITH, 

THIS POEM IS INSCRIBED 

BY 

THE AUTHOR. 



CONTENTS. 



Introductiox 



Argument ... 

The Lay of the Last Mixstrel 

Canto L 

Canto II 

Canto III 

Canto IV 

Canto V 

Canto VI. 
Appexdix 



-7 



/I 

""7 

'39 
169 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 



Tfrawn and Engraved under the supervision of 
George T. Andrew. 



* The way was long, the wind was cold." 

— hitroduction. W. H. S HELTON. Frontispiece. 

" She raised her stately head, 
And her heart throbb'd high with pride." 

— Canto \^ xviii. Elli;n Oakford. 44 

" Soon in his saddle sate he fast, 
And soon the steep descent he past." 

— Canto I, XXV. \V. H. Siiklton. 47 

'* If thou woiildst view fair Melrose aright, 
(jo visit it by the pale moonlight." 

— Ca7ito 2^ i. Edmund H. CiARKEXT. 52 

" The Knight and the ladye fair arc met, 
And under the hawthorn's boughs are set." 

— Canto 2^ xxviii. W. I.. Taylor. ' 65 

"He bade his page to stanch the wound, 
And there beside the warrior stay." 

— Canto T„ tH. VV. 11. Sullton. j^ 

" He would not do the fair child harm, 
I hit hold him with his powerful aruh" 

— Canto 2, xz'iii. VV. I.. Shkim'Aki). Bo 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 



ARTIST. 

* On the high turret sitting lone, 
She waked at times the lute's soft tone." 

— Ca7ito 3, xxiv. Ellen Oakford. 



84 



' In sign of truce, his better hand 
Displayed a peeled willow wand." 

— Canto ^^ xxi. W. H. Shelton. 



106 



' Behind Lord Howard and the Dame, 
Fair Margaret on her palfrey came." 

— Canto 5, xvii. W. L. Taylor. 



128 



' And wild and haggard looked around, 
As dizzy, and in pain." 

— Canto 5, xxiv. H. Pruett Share. 



ni 



' Above the prostrate pilgrim band, 
The mitred Abbot stretched his hand." 

— Canto 6, xxx. W. L. Sheppard. 



164 



INTRODUCTION.^ 



A Poem of nearly thirty years' standing may be supposed hardly 
to need an Introduction, since, without one, it has been able to keep 
itself afloat through the best part of a generation. Nevertheless, 
as, in the edition of the Waverly Novels now in course of publica- 
tion, I have imposed on myself the task of saying something con- 
cerning the purpose and history of each in their turn, I am desirous 
that the Poems for which I first received some marks of the public 
favor should also be accompanied with such scraps of their literary 
history as may be supposed to carry interest along with them. 
Even if I should be mistaken in thinking that the secret history of 
what was once so popular, may still attract public attention and 
curiosity, it seems to me not without its use to record the manner 
and circumstances under which the present, and other Poems on 
the same plan, attained for a season an extensive reputation. 

I must resume the story of my literary labors at the pericnl at 
which I broke off in the Essay on the Imitation of Popular Poetry, 
when I had enjoyed the first gleam of public favor, by the success 
of the first edition of the Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border. The 

1 Published in 410 {£1 5^.), 1805. [The Introduction to the Lay of ihe 
Last Minstrel, written in April, 1830, was revised by tlie author in tlie autumn 
of 1831, when he also made some corrections in the text of the poem, and sev- 
eral additions to the notes. Tlie work is now printeil from his interleaved 
copy. It is much to be regretted that the original MS. of this poem has not been 
preserved. We are thus denied the advantage of comparing througliout tlie 
author's various readings, which in the case of Marmion. the Lady of the I^ikc, 
the Lord of the Isles, ike, are often highly curious and instructive. — El>.]. 



8 THE LAY OF 



second edition of that work, published in 1803, proved, in the lan- 
guage of the trade, rather a heavy Concern.^ The demand in Scot- 
land had been supplied by the first edition, and the curiosity of 
the English was not much awakened by poems in the rude garb 
of antiquity, accompanied with notes referring to the obscure 
feuds of barbarous clans, of whose very names civilized history 
was ignorant. It w^as, on the whole, one of those books which are 
more praised than they are read. 

At this time I stood personally in a different position from that 
which 1 occupied when I first dipped my desperate pen in ink for other 
purposes than those of m}* profession. In 1796, when I first published 
the translations from Biirger. I was an insulated individual, with only 
my own wants to provide for, and having, in a great measure, my 
own inclinations alone to consult. In 1803, when the second edi- 
tion -of the Minstrelsy appeared, I had arrived at a period of life 
Hhen men, however thoughtless, encounter duties and circumstances 
which press consideration and plans of life upon the most careless 
minds. I had been for some time married — was the father of a 
rising family, and, though fiilly enabled to meet the consequent 
demands upon me, it was my duty and desire to place myself in a 
situation which would enable me to make honorable provision 
a^rainst the various contingencies of life. 

It may be readily supposed that the attempts which I had made 
in literature had been unfavorable to my success at the bar. The 
goddess Themis is at Edinburgh, and I suppose everywhere else, of 
a peculiarly jealous disposition. She will not readily consent to 
share her authorit}-, and sternly demands from her votaries, not 
only that real duty be carefully attended to and discharged, but that 
a certain air of business shall be observed even in the midstiof total 
idleness. It is prudent, if not absolutely necessan.-. in a young bar- 

1 [" The • Lay * is the best of all possible comments on the Border '^Wn- 
stre]9y." — BH/isA Critu. August. 1805] 



THE LAST MINSTREL, 



rister, to appear completely engrossed by his profession ; however 
destitute of employment he may in reality be, he ought to preserve, 
if possible, the appearance of full occupation. He should, therefore, 
seem perpetually engaged among his law-papers, dusting them, as 
it were ; and, as Ovid advises the fair, 

"Si nullus erit pulvis, tamen execute nullum." l 

Perhaps such extremity of attention is more especially required, 
considering the great number of counsellors who are called to the 
bar,,and how very small a proportion of them are finally disposed, 
or find encouragement, to follow the law as a profession. Hence 
the number of deserters is so great, that the least lingering look 
behind occasions a young novice to be set down as one of the 
intending fugitives. Certain it is, that the Scottish Themis was at 
this time peculiarly jealous of any flirtation with the Muses, on the 
part of those who had ranged themselves under her banners. This 
was probably owing to her consciousness of the superior attractions 
of her rivals. Of late, however, she has relaxed in some instances 
in this particular, an eminent example of which has been shown in 
the case of my friend, Mr. JeftVey, who, after long conducting one 
of the most influential literary i)erio(lica]s of the age, witli uncjues- 
tionable abihty, has been, by the general consent of his brethren, 
recently elected to be their Dean of Faculty, or PresiderJ, — being 
the highest acknowledgment of his professional talents which they 
had it in their power to oflfer.'- But this is an incident much beyond 
the ideas of a period of thirty years' distance, when a barrister who 
really possessed any turn for lighter literature was at as much pains 
to conceal it as if it had in reality been something to be ashanu-d 
of; and I could mention more than one instance in which Hterature 

1 [If dust be none, yet brusli that none away.] 

2 [Mr. Jeffrey, after conducting tlie ICtlinburgh Kevuw toi twiiny-scviu 
years, withdrew from that office in 1829, on being elected D(;iin of the Faculty 
of Advocates. — Kl).] 



10 



THE LAY OF 



and society have suffered much loss, that jurisprudence might be 
enriched. 

Such, however, was not my case : for the reader will not wonder 
that my open interference wdth matters of light literature diminished 
my employment in the weightier matters of the law. Xor did the 
solicitors, upon whose choice the counsel takes rank in his profes- 
sion, do me less than justice, by regarding others among my con- 
temporaries as fitter to discharge the duty due to their clients, than 
a young man who was taken up with running after ballads, whether 
Teutonic or national. ]My profession and I, therefore, came to 
stand nearly upon the footing which honest Slender consoled him- 
self on having established with ^Mistress Anne Page: "There was 
no great love between us at the beginning, and it pleased Heaven 
to decrease it on farther acquaintance." I became sensible that the 
time was come when I must either buckle myself resolutely to the 
" toil by day, the lamp by night,*' renouncing all the Delilahs of my 
imagination, or bid adieu to the profession of the law, and hold an- 
other course. 

I confess my own inclination revolted from the more severe choice, 
which might have been deemed by many the wiser alternative. As 
my transgressions had been numerous, my repentance must have 
been signalized by unusual sacrifices. I ought to have mentioned, 
that since my fourteenth or fifteenth year, my health, originally deli- 
cate, had become extremely robust. From infancy I had labored 
under the infirmity of a severe lameness, but, as I believe is usually 
the case with men of spirit who sutter under personal inconveniences 
of this nature, I had, since the improvement of my health, in defi- 
ance of this incapacitating circumstance, distinguished myself by 
the endurance of toil on foot or horseback, having often walked 
thirty miles a day, and rode upwards of a hundred, without resting. 
In this manner I made many pleasant journeys through parts of the 
country then not very accessible, gaining more amusement and in- 



THE LAST MINSTREL. j j 

struction than I have been able to acquire since I have travelled in 
a more commodious manner. I practised most silvan sports also, 
with some success, and with great delight. But these pleasures 
must have been all resigned, or used vv^ith great moderation, had I 
determined to regain my station at the bar. It was even doubtful 
whether I could, with perfect character as a jurisconsult, retain a 
situation in a volunteer corps of cavalry, which I then held. The 
threats of invasion were at this time instant-and menacing ; the call 
by Britain on her children was universal, and was answered by 
some, who, like myself, consulted rather their desire than their 
ability to bear arms. My services, however, were found useful in 
assisting to maintain the discipline of the corps, being the point on 
which their constitution rendered them most amenable to military 
criticism. In other respects, the squadron was a tine one, consist- 
ing chiefly of handsome men, well mounted, and armed at their own 
expense. My attention to the corps took up a good deal of time : 
and while it occupied many of the happiest hours of my life, it fur- 
nished an additional reason for my reluctance again to encounter 
the severe course of study indispensable to success in the juridical 
profession. 

On the other hand, my kither, whose feelings might have been 
hurt by my quitting the bar, had been tor two or three years dead, 
so that I had no control to thwart my own inclination : and my 
income being equal to all the comforts, and some of tlic elegan- 
cies, of life, I was not pressed to an irksome labor by necessity, that 
most powerful of motives; consequentl} , 1 was the more easily 
seduced to choose the employment which was most agreeable to me. 
This was yet the easier, that in iSoo I had obtained the i)refor- 
ment of SherilT of Selkirkshire, about /,' 300 a year in value, and 
which was the more agreeable to nie, as in tliat county I h.ul .sr\ 
eral friends and relations. r»ul 1 did not abandon the profession to 
which I had been educated without certain prudential resolutions. 



J 2 THE LAY OF 



which, at the risk of soir.c egotism, I will here mention; not with- 
out the hope that they may be useful to young persons who may 
stand in circumstances similar to those in which I then stood. 

In the first place, upon considering the lives and fortunes of per- 
sons who had given themselves up to literature, or to the task of 
pleasing the public, it seemed to me, that the circumstances wdiich 
chiefly affected their happiness and character, were those from which 
Horace has bestowed upon authors the epithet of the Irritable Race. 
It requires no depth of philosophic reflection to perceive, that the 
petty w^arfare of Pope with the Dunces of his period could not have 
been carried on without his suffering the most acute torture, such as 
a man must endure from mosquitoes, by whose stings he suffers 
agony, although he can crush them in his grasp by myriads. Nor 
is it necessary to call to memory the many humiliating instances in 
which men of the greatest genius have, to avenge some pitiful 
quarrel, made themselves ridiculous during their lives, to become 
the still more degraded objects of pity to future times. 

Upon the whole, as I had no pretension to the genius of the dis- 
tinguished persons who had fallen into such errors, I concluded 
there could be no occasion for imitating them in their mistakes, or 
what I considered as such ; and, in adopting literary pursuits as the 
principal occupation of my future life, I resolved, if possible, to 
avoid those weaknesses of temper which seemed to have most easily 
beset my more celebrated predecessors. 

With this view, it was my flrst resolution to keep as far as was in 
my power abreast of society, continuing to maintain my place in 
general company, without yielding to the very natural temptation of 
narrowing myself to what is called literary society. By doing so, I 
imagined I should escape the besetting sin of listening to language, 
which, from one motive or other, is apt to ascribe a very undue de- 
gree of consequence to literary pursuits, as if they were, indeed, the 
business, rather than the amusement, of life. The opposite course 



THE LAST MINSTRIlL. 13 



can only be compared to the injudicious conduct of one who pam- 
pers himself with cordial and luscious draughts, until he is unable 
to endure wholesome bitters. Like Gil Bias, therefore, 1 resolved 
to stick by the society of my cojmnis, instead of seeking that of a 
more literary cast, and to maintain my general interest in what was 
going on around me, reserving the man of letters for the desk and 
the library. 

My second resolution was a corollary from the first. I det(;r- 
mined that, without shutting my ears to the voice of true criticism, 
I would pay no regard to that which assumes the form of satire. I 
therefore resolved to arm myself with that triple brass of Horace, of 
which those of my profession are seldom held deficient, against all 
the roving warfare of satire, parody, and sarcasm ; to laugh if the 
jest was a good one ; or, if otherwise, to let it hum and buzz itself 
to sleep. 

It is to the observance of these rules (according to my best 
belief), that, after a life of thirty years engaged in literary labors of 
various kinds, I attribute my never having been entangled in any 
literary quarrel or controversy ; and, which is a still more pleasing 
result, that I have been distinguished by the personal friendship of 
my most approved contemporaries of all parties. 

I adopted, at the same time, another resolution, on which it may 
doubtless be remarked, that it was well for me that I had it in my 
power to do so, and that, therefore, it is a line of conduct which, 
depending upon accident, can be less generally applicable in other 
cases. Yet I fail not to record this part of my plan, convinced that, 
though it may not be in every one's i)ower to adopt exactly tiie 
same resolution, he may nevertheless, by his own exertions, in some 
shape or other, attain the object on which it was founded, namely, 
to secure the means of subsistence, without relying exclusively o\\ 
literary talents. In this respect, I determined that literature should 
be my stafT, but not my crutch, and that the i)rofits of my literary 



14 



THE LAV OF 



labor, however convenient otherwise, should not, if I could help it, 
become necessary to my ordinary expenses. With this purpose I 
resolved, if the interest of my friends could so far favor me, to retire 
upon any of the respectable offices of the law, in which persons of 
that profession are glad to take refuge, when they feel themselves, 
or are judged by others, incompetent to aspire to its higher honors. 
Upon such a post an author might hope to retreat, without any 
perceptible alteration of circumstances, whenever the time should 
arrive that the public grew weary of his endeavors to please, or he 
himself should tire of the pen. At this period of my life, I pos- 
sessed so many friends capable of assisting me in this object of 
ambition, that I could hardly overrate my own prospects of obtain- 
ing the preferment to which I limited my wishes : and. in fact, I 
obtained, in no long period, the reversion of a situation which com- 
pletely met them. 

Thus far all was well, and the Author had been guilty, perhaps, 
of no great imprudence, when he relinquished his forensic practice 
with the hope of making some figure in the field of literature. But 
an established character with the public, in my new capacity, still 
remained to be acquired. I have noticed that the translations from 
Biirger had been unsuccessful, nor had the original poetry which 
appeared under the auspices of Mr. Lewis, in the " Tales of Won- 
der,'' in any great degree raised my reputation. It is true, I had 
private friends disposed to second me in my efforts to obtain popu- 
larity. But I was sportsman enough to know, that if the greyhound 
does not run well, the halloes of his patrons will not obtain the 
prize for him. 

Neither was I ignorant that the practice of ballad-writing was 
for the present out of fashion, and that any attempt to revive it, or 
to found a poetical character upon it, would certainly fail of success. 
The ballad-measure itself, which was once listened to as to an 
enchanting melody, had become hackneyed and sickening, from its 



THE LAST MINSTREL. I 5 

being the accompaniment of every grinding hand-organ ; and besides, 
a long work in quatrains, whether those of the common ballad, or 
such as are termed elegiac, has an effect upon the mind like that 
of the bed of Procrustes upon the human body ; for, as it must be 
both awkward and difficult to carry on a long sentence from one 
stanza to another, it follows, that the meaning of each period must 
be comprehended within four lines, and equally so that it must be 
extended so as to fill that space. The alternate dilation and 
contraction thus rendered necessary is singularly unfavorable to 
narrative composition; and the " Gondibert '' of Sir William D' 
Avenant, though containing many striking passages, has never 
become popular, owing chiefly to its being told in this species of 
elegiac verse. 

In the dilemma occasioned by this objection, the idea occurred to 
the Author of using the measured short line, which forms the 
structure of so much minstrel poetry, that it may be properly termed 
the Romantic stanza, by way of distinction ; and which appears so 
natural to our language, that the very best of our poets have not 
been able to protract it into the verse properly called Heroic, with- 
out the use of epithets which are, to say the least, unnecessary.^ lUit, 
on the other hand, the extreme facility of the short couplet, which 
seems congenial to our language, and was, doubtless for that reason, 
so popular with our old minstrels, is, for the same reason, apt to 
prove a snare to the composer who uses it in more modern days, by 



1 Tims it has been often remarked, tliat, in the opening couplets of Pope's 
translation of tlic Iliad, there are two syllables forming a superfluous word in 
each line, as may be observed by attending to such words as are printed in 

Italics. 

" Achilles' wrath to Chcccc the direful spriiii; 
Of woes umunnbcr'd, heavenly goddess, sin^;; 
That wrath which sent to V\\\Ko<> gloomy reign, 
The souls of mighty chiefs in battle slain, 
Whose bones, iinbiiried on the desert shore, 
Devouring dogs and hungry vultures tore." 



1 6 THE LAY OF 



encouraging him in a habit of slovenly composition. The necessity 
of occasional pauses often forces the young poet to pay more attention 
to sense, as the boy's kite rises highest when the train is loaded by 
a due counterpoise. The Author was therefore intimidated by what 
Byron calls the *' fatal facility *' of the octo-syllabic verse, which was 
otherwise better adapted to his purpose of imitating the more 
ancient poetry. 

I was not less at a loss for a subject which might admit of being 
treated with the simplicity and wildness of the ancient ballad. But 
accident dictated both a theme and measure ^vhich decided the sub- 
ject as well as the structure of the poemi. 

The lovely young Countess of Dalkeith, afterwards Harriet Duch- 
ess of Buccleuch, had come to the land of her husband with the 
desire of making herself acquainted with its traditions and customs, 
as well as its manners and history. All who remember this lady 
will agree, that the intellectual character of her extreme beauty, the 
amenity and courtesy of her manners, the soundness of her under- 
standing, and her unbounded benevolence, gave more the idea of 
an angelic visitant, than of a being belonging to this nether world ; 
and such a thought was but too consistent with the short space she 
was permitted to tarry among us.^ Of course, where all made it 
a pride and pleasure to gratify her wishes, she soon heard enough of 
Border lore ; among others, an aged gentleman of property,- near 

1 [The Duchess died in August, 1S14. Sir Waiter Scott's Hues on her 
death will be found in a subsequent volume of this Collection. — Ed.] 

2 This was Mr. Beattie of Mickledale, a man then considerably upwards of 
eighty, of a shrewd and sarcastic temper, which he did not at all times suppress, 
as the following anecdote will show: — A worthy clergyman, now deceased, 
with better good-will than tact, was endeavoring to push the senior forward in 
his recollection of Border ballads and legends, by expressing reiterated surprise 
at his wonderful memory. "No, sir," said old Mickledale; "my memory is 
good for little, for it cannot retain what ought to be preserved. I can remem- 
ber all these stories about the auld riding days, which are of no earthly impor- 
tance ; but were you, reverend sir, to repeat your best sermon in this drawing- 
room, I cou.d not tell you half an hour afterwards what you had been speaking 
about." 



THE LAST MINSTREL. ,7 



Langholm, communicated to her ladyship the story of Gilpin Hor- 
ner, a tradition in which the narrator, and many more of that coun- 
try, were firm believers. The young Countess, much delighted witli 
the legend, and the gravity and full confidence with which it was 
told, enjoined on me as a task to compose a ballad on the subject. 
Of course, to hear was to obey ; and thus the goblin story, objected 
to by several critics as an excrescence upon the poem, was, in fact, 
the occasion of its being written. 

A chance similar to that which dictated the subject, gave me 
also the hint of a new mode of treating it. We had at that time the 
lease of a pleasant cottage, near Lasswadc, on the romantic banks 
of the Esk, to which we escaped when the vacations of the Court 
permitted me so much leisure. Here I had the pleasure to receive a 
visit from Mr. Stoddart (now Sir John Stoddart, Judge-Advocate at 
Malta), who was at that time collecting the particulars which he 
afterwards embodied in his Remarks on Local Scenery in Scotland.^ 
I was of some use to bim in procuring the information which he de- 
sired, and guiding him to the scenes which he wished to see. In 
return, he made me better acquainted than I had hitherto been with 
the poetic effusions which have since made the Lakes ot" Westmore- 
land, and the authors by whom they have been sung, so famous 
wherever the English tongue is spoken. 

I was already acquainted with the " Joan of Arc,'' the " Thalaba,'' 
and the '' Metrical Ballads ^' of Mr. Southey, which had found their 
way to Scotland, and were generally admired. lUit Mr. Stoddart, 
who had the advantage of personal friendship with the authors, and 
who possessed a strong memory with an excellent taste, was able to 
. repeat to me many long s[)ecimens of their poetry which iiad not 
yet appeared in print. Amongst, others, was the striking fragment 
called Christabel, by Mr. Coleridge, which, from the singularly 

J Two voluincs, loval octavo. 1801. 



I 



ll 



THE LAY OF 



the author to ad^: : i : t t : :: 

suited to such an extr: ^ i : t subject of Gil- 

pin Homer. As ^ :bis mes- 

colanza of me:^- t . Anstev. 

Dr. Wolcot:. _ : t : I :: ;: i^Ddnd 

it used in serious poetry, and :: is to Mr. Coleridge that I am 
bound to make the acknowledg" t t from the pupil to his mas- 

ter. I observe that Lord Bjrcii. '.:. ^i^dring my obligations to ^Ir. 
Coleridge, which I have been always most ready to acknowledge. 
expressed, or was understood t : - t : pe. that I did not write 

an unfiiendl}' review on Mr. Colenc^ ' : ns.^ On this sub- 

ject, I have only to say. that I do i. : i xhe review which 

is alluded to : and were I ever to t:/ t r : ng freedom of 

censuring a man of !Mr. Coleridge's extraordinary talents, it would be 
on account of the caprice and indolence with which he has thrown 
from him, as if in mere wantonness, those unfinished scraps of poe- 
try, which, like the Torso of antiquity, defy the skill of his poetical 
brethren to complete them.* The charming fragments which the 
author abandons to their fote are surely too valuable to be treated 
like the proofs of careless engravers, the sweepings of whose studios 
often make the fortune of some painstaking collector. 

I did not immediately proceed upon my projected labor, though I 
was now frunished with a subject, and with a structure of ver 
which might have the effect of novelty to the public ear, and affor 
the author an opportunity of varying his measure with the variations 

1 Medwin's Conversations of Lord Bvron, p. 309, 

2 [Sir Waller, elsewhere, in allusion to ** Coleridge's beaudful aud tants 
fragment of Cbristabel," savs, " Has not our own imaginadTe poet cause to 1 
that fatare ages will desire to sammon him from his place of rest, as ^lilton 
3">nged 

' To can op him who left half told 
The stoiy of Camboscara bold ' ? " 

^aUs ta tJu Abbot.\ 



THE LAST MINSTREL. iq 



of a romantic theme. On the contrary, it was, to the best of my 
recollection, more than a year after Mr. Stoddart'S visit, that, by 
way of experiment, I composed the first two or three stanzas of *• Tlie 
Lay of the Last Minstrel." I was shortly afterwards visited by two 
intimate friends, one of whom still survives. They were men whose 
talents might have raised them to the highest station in literature, 
had they not preferred exerting them in their own profession of the 
law, in which they attained equal preferment. I was in the habit of 
consulting them on my attempts at composition, having equal confi- 
dence in their sound taste and friendly sincerity.^ In this specimen 
I had, in the phrase of the Highland servant, packed all that was m\' 
own at least., for I had also included a line of invocation, a little 
softened, from Coleridge — 

" Mary, mother, shield us well." 

As neither of my friends said much to me on the subject of the stan- 
zas I showed them, before their departure, I had no doubt that their 
disgust had been greater than their good-nature chose to express. 
Looking upon them, therefore, as a fiiilure, I threw the manuscript 
into the fire, and thought as little more as I could of the matter. 
Some time afterwards I met one of my two counsellors, who 
inquired, with considerable appearance of interest, about the i)ro- 
gress of the romance I had commenced, and was greatly surprised 
at learning its fate. Me confessed that neither he nor our mutual 
friend had been at first able to give a precise opinion on a poem so 
nuich out of the common road, but that as tho\' walked home 
together to the city, they had talked much on the subject, and tlic 
result was an earnest desire that I would proceed with the compo- 
sition. He also added, (hat some sort of prologue might be ncces- 

1 One of lliesc, William lOisUinc, ICsii. (lA)rcl KimuHlilor). I have otteii had 
occasion to mention; and, thougli I may hardly be thankeil for disclosini; the 
name of the other, yet I cannot but state that the secoml is George Cranstoun. 
now a Senator of the College of Justice br the title of Lord Corehouse. 1S31. 



20 THE LAY OF 



sary, to place the mind of the hearers in the situation to understand 
the poem, and recommended the adoption of such quaint mottoes as 
Spenser has used to announce the contents of the chapters of the 
Faery Queen, such as — 

" Babe's bloody hands may not be c'.eansed. 
The face of golden Mean : 
Her sisters two, Extremities, 
Her strive to banish clean." 

I entirely agreed with my friendly critic in the necessity of having 
some sort of pitch-pipe, which might make readers aware of the 
object, or rather the tone, of the publication. But I doubted 
whether, in assuming the oracular style of Spenser's mottoes, the 
interpreter might not be censured as the harder to be understood of 
the two. I therefore introduced the Old Minstrel, as an appropriate 
prolocutor, by whom the lay might be sung, or spoken, and the 
introduction of whom, bet^vixt the cantos, might remind the reader 
at intervals of the time, place, and circumstances of the recitation. 
This species oicadre^ or frame, afterwards afforded the poem its 
name of '• The Lay of the Last Minstrel." 

The work was subsequently shown to other friends during its pro- 
gress, and received the inipriuiatur of Mr. Francis Jeffrey, who had 
been alreadv for some time distinguished by his critical talent. 

The poem, being once licensed by the critics as fit for the mar- 
ket, was soon finished, proceeding at about the rate of a canto per 
week. There was, indeed, little occasion for pause or hesitation, 
when a troublesome rhyme might be accommodated by an alteration 
of the stanza, or where an incorrect measure might be remedied by 
a variation in the rhyme. It was finally published in 1805, and 
may be regarded as the first work in which the writer, who has 
been so voluminous, laid his claim to be considered as an original 
author. 

The book was published by Longman & Company, and Archi- 



THE LAST MINSTREL. 21 

bald Constable & Company. The principal of the latter firm was 
then commencing that course of bold and liberal industry which 
was of so much advantage to his country, and might have been so to 
himself, but for causes which it is needless to enter into here. The 
work, brought out on the usual terms of division of profits between 
the author and publishers, was not long after purchased by them 
for £^ 500, to which Messrs. Longman & Company afterward.s 
added £ 100, in their own unsolicited kindness, in consequence of 
the uncommon success of the work. It was handsomely given to 
supply the loss of a fine horse, which broke down suddenly while the 
author was riding with one of the worthy publishers. 1 

It would be great affectation not to own frankly, that the Author 
expected some success from *' The Lay of the Last Minstrel.'' The 
attempt to return to a more simple and natural style of poetry was 
likely to be welcomed, at a time v/hen the public had become tired 
of heroic hexameters, with all the buckram and binding which belong 
to them of later days. But whatever might have been his expecta- 
tions, whether moderate or unreasonable, the result left them far 
behind; for, among those who smiled on the adventurous Minstrel, 
were numbered the great names of William Pitt and Charles Fox. 
Neither was the extent of the sale inferior to the character of the 
judges who received the poem with approbation. Upwards of 
thirty thousand copies of the Lay were disposed of by the trade ; 
and the Author had to perform a task difficult to human vanity, 
when called upon to make the necessary deductions from his own 
merits, in a calm attempt to account for his poi)ularity. 

A few additional remarks on the Author\s literary attempts, after 
this period, will be found in the Introduc^lion to the Poem of M.u- 
mion. 

Annoisi-OKO, April, 1830. 

' [Mr. Owru K. •(•«,. Va\\ 



ARGUMENT. 



The Poem, now oflfered to the Public, is intended to illustrate the 
customs and manners which anciently prevailed on the Borders of 
England and Scotland. The inhabitants, living in a state partly 
pastoral, and partly warlike, and combining habits of constant dep- 
redation with the influence of a rude spirit of chivalry, were often 
engaged in scenes highly susceptible of poetical ornament. As the 
description of scenery and manners was more the object of the 
Author than a combined and regular narrative, the plan of the 
Ancient Metrical Romance was adopted, which allows greater lati- 
tude, in this respect, than would be consistent with the dignity of a 
regular Poem.^ The same model offered other facilities, as it per- 
mits an occasional alteration of measure, which, in some degree. 



1 [" The chief excellence of ' The Lay ' consists in the beauty of the descrip- 
tions of local scenery, and the accurate picture of customs and manners among 
the Scottish Borderers at the time it refers to. The various exploits and adven- 
tures which occur in those half-civilized times, when the bands of government 
were so loosely twisted, that every man depended for safety more on his own 
arm, or the prowess of his chief, than on the civil power, may be said to hold a 
middle rank between history and private anecdote. War is always most pict- 
uresque where it is least formed into a science; it has most variety and interest 
where the prowess and activity of individuals has most play; and tlie nocturnal 
expedition of Diomed and Ulysses to seize the chariot and horses of Rhesus, 
or a raid oi the Scotts or the Kerrs to drive cattle, will make a better figure in 
verse, than all the battles of the great King of Prussia. The sUNth-dojt^, the 
bcacon-fircs, the ycdwood-axes^ the moss-troopers, the yell of tlie sloji^an, and all 
the irregular warfare of predatory expeditions, or feuds of hereditary vengeance, 
are far more captivating to the imagination than a park of artillery and battal- 
ions of well-drilled soldiers." — Annual Review, 1804.] 



24 THE LAY OF 



authorizes the change of rhythm in the text.^ The machinery also, 
adopted from popular belief, would have seemed puerile in a Poem 
which did not partake of the rudeness of the old Ballad, or Metri- 
cal Romance. 

For these reasons, the Poem was put into the mouth of an ancient 
Minstrel, the last of the race, who, as he is supposed to have sur- 
vived the Revolution, might have caught somewhat of the refine- 
ment of modern poetry, without losing the simplicity of his original 
model. The date of the Tale itself is about the middle of the six- 
teenth century, when most of the personages actually flourished. 
The time occupied by the action is Three Nights and Three Days.* 

1 [" It must be observed that there is this difference between the license of the 
old romancer and that assumed by Mr. Scott : the aberrations of the first are 
usually casual and slight ; those of the other premeditated and systematic. The 
old romancer may be compared to a man who trusts his reins to his horse ; his 
palfrey often blunders, and occasionally breaks his pace, sometimes from viva- 
city, oftener through indolence. Mr. Scott sets out with the intention of diversi- 
fying his journey by every variety of motion. He is now at a trot, now at a 
gallop ; nay, he sometimes stops, as if to 

' Make graceful caprioles, and prance 
Between the pillars.' 

A main objection to this plan is to be found in the shock which the ear receives 
from violent and abrupt transitions. On the other hand, it must be allowed 
that as different species of verse are individually better suited to the expression 
of the different ideas, sentiments, and passions, which it is the object of poetry 
to convey, the happiest efforts may be produced by adapting to the subject its 
most congenial structure of verse." — Critical Review, 1805. 

"From the novelty of ils style and subject, and from the spirit of its execu- 
tion, Mr. Scott's 'Lay of the Last Minstrel* kindled a sort of enthusiasm among 
all classes of readers ; and the concurrent voice of the public assigned to it a 
very exalted rank, which, on more cool and dispassionate examination, its nu- 
merous essential beauties will enable it to maintain. For vivid richness of coi- 
oring and truth of costume, many of its descriptive pictures stand almost 
unrivalled; it carries us back in imagination to the time of action; and we 
wander with the poet along Tweedside, or among the wild glades of Ettricke 
Forest." — Monthly Review, May, 1808.] 

2 ["We consider this poem as an attempt to transfer the refinements of 
modern poetry to the matter and the manner of the ancient metrical romance. 



THE LAST MINSTREL. 25 



The author, enamored of the lofty visions of chivalry, and partial to the strains 
in wliich they were formerly embodied, seems to have employed all the resources 
of his genius in endeavoring to recall them to the favor and admiration of 
the public, and in adapting to the taste of modern readers a species of poetry 
which was once the delight of the courtly, but has long ceased to gladden any 
other eyes than those of the scholar and the antiquary. This is a romance, 
therefore, composed by a minstrel of the present day ; or such a romance as we 
may suppose would have been written in modern times, if that style of compo 
sition had continued to be cultivated, and partakes consequently of the improve- 
ments which every branch of literature has received since the time of its deser- 
tion."— Jeffrey, April, 1805.] 



THE 



LAY OF THE LAST MINSTREL. 



//V SIX CANTOS. 



Dum rclcgOy scripsisse piidct ; qtiia pluriina ccrno 
Me quoqiidy qtii feci, judice, liigna lini. 



THE 



LAY OF THE LAST MINSTREL. 



%ntvoAxxction. 



The way was long, the wind was cold, 
The Minstrel was infirm and old ; 
His wither'd cheek, and tresses gray, 
Seem'd to have known a better day ; 
The harp, his sole remaining joy, 
Was carried by an orphan boy. 
The last of all the I'ards was he, 
Who sung of Border chivalry ; 
For, wclladay ! their date was fled, 
His tuneful brethren all were dead ; 
And he, neglected and opi)ress'(l, 
AV^ish'd to be with them, and :U rest. 
No more on j)rancing palfre\' borne, 
He caroll'd, light as lark at morn ; 
No longer courted and caress'd. 
High ])laced in hall, a welcome guest, 
He jK)urM, to lord and huly gay, 
The unpremeditated lay : 
Old times were changed, old manners i 



30 



THE LAY OF 



A stranger fill'd the Stuarts' throne ; 
The bigots of the iron time 
Had caird his harmless .art a crime, 
A wandering Harper, scorn' d and poor, 
He begg'd his bread from door to door, 
And tuned, to please a peasant's ear, 
The harp, a king had loved to hear. 

He pass'd where Newark's ^ stately tower 
Looks out from Yarrow's birchen bower : 

1 [" This is a massive square tower, now unroofed and ruinous, surrounded 
by an outward wall, defended by round flanking turrets. It is most beautifully 
situated, about three miles from Selkirk, upon the banks of the Yarrow, a fierce 
and precipitous stream, which unites with the Ettricke about a mile beneath the 
castle. 

*' Newark Castle was built by James II. The royal arms, with the unicorn, 
are engraved on a stone in the western side of the tower. There was a much 
more ancient castle in its immediate vicinity, called Auldwark, founded it is 
said by Alexander III. Both were designed for the royal residence when the 
King was disposed to take his pleasure in the extensive forest of Ettricke. 
Various grants occur in the records of the Privy Seal, bestowing the keeping of 
the Castle of Newark upon different barons. There is a popular tradition, 
that it was once seized and held out by the outlaw Murray, a noted character 
in song, who only surrendered Newark upon condition of being made hereditary 
sheriff of the forest. A long ballad, containing an account of this transaction, 
is preserved in the 'Border Minstrelsy' (vol. i. p. 369). Upon the marriage 
of James IV. with Margaret, sister of Henry VIII., the Castle of Newark, with 
the whole Forest of Ettricke, was assigned to her as a part of her jointure lands. 
But of this she could make little advantage ; for, after the death of her husband, 
she is found complaining heavily, that Buccleuch liad seized upon these lands. 
Indeed, the office of keeper was latterly held by the family of Buccleuch, and 
with so firm a grasp, that when the Forest of Ettricke was disparked, they ob- 
tained a grant of the Castle of Newark in property. It was within the court- 
yard of this Castle that General Lesly did military execution upon the prisoners 
whom he had taken at the battle of Philiphaugh. The castle continued to be 
an occasional seat of the Buccleuch family for more than a century ; and here, 
it is said, the Duchess of Monmouth and Buccleuch was brought up. For this 
reason, probably, Mr. Scott has chosen to make it the scene in which the ' Lay 
of the Last Minstrel' is recited in her presence, and for her amusement." — 
SCHETKY'S Illustrations of the Lay of the Last Minstrel. 



THE LAST MINSTREL. 3 I 

The Minstrel gazed with wishful eye — 
No humbler resting-place was nigh. 
With hesitating step at last, 
The embattled portal arch he pass'd, 
Whose ponderous grate and massy bar 
Had oft roll'd back the tide of war, 
But never closed the iron door 
Against the desolate and poor. 
The Duchess ^ marked his weary pace, 
His timid mien, and reverend face, 
And bade her page the menials tell, 
That they should tend the old man well : 
For she had known adversity, 
Though born in such a high degree ; 
In pride of power, in beauty's bloom, 
Had wept o'er Monmouth's bloody tomb ! 

When kindness had his wants supplied, 
And the old man was gratified, 
Began to rise his minstrel pride : 
And he began to talk anon, 
Of good Earl Francis,'-^ dead and gone, 
And of Earl Walter,^ rest him, (lod ! 

It may be added tliat Bowlull was tlic favorite residence of Lord and l^idy 
Dalkeith (afterwards Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch), at the time when the 
poem was composed; the ruins of Newark are all but included in tlic j->ark 
attached to that modern seat of the family; and Sir Walter Scott, no doubt, 
was influenced in his choice of the locality, by the predilection of tlie charm- 
ing lady who suggested the subject of his " Lay" for the scenery of tlie Yarrow, 
a beautiful walk on whose banks, leading from the house to the old castle, is 
called, in memory of her, the Duchess's ]]'d/k. — VA)^ 

1 y\nne, Duchess of Buccleuch and Monmouth, rei)resentative of tlic ancient 
Lords of Buccleuch, and widow of the unfortunate James, Duke of Monmouth, 
who was beheaded in 1685. 

2 Francis Scott, I^arl of 1 juttlcuch, tathrr ot the Oiulicss. 

•^ Walter, Earl of Buccleuch, grandlather of the l)uchess, and a celebrated 
warrior. 



THE LAY OF 



A braver ne'er to battle rode ; 
And how full many a tale he knew. 
Of the old warriors of Buccleuch : 
And, would the noble Duchess deign 
To listen to an old man's strain, 
Though stiff his hand, his voice though weak, 
He thought even yet, the sooth to speak. 
That, if she loved the harp to hear. 
He could make music to her ear. 

The humble boon was soon obtain'd : 
The Aged Minstrel audience gaia'd. 
But, when he reach'd the room of state. 
Where she, with all her ladies, sate. 
Perchance he wished his boon denied : 
For, when to tune his harp he tried, 
His trembling hand had lost the ease. 
Which marks security to please ; 
And scenes, long past, of joy and pain, 
Came wildering o'er his aged brain — 
He tried to tune his harp in vain ! 
The pitying Duchess praised its chime. 
And gave him heart, and gave him time, 
Till every string's according glee 
Was blended into harmony. 
And then, he said, he would full fain 
He could recall an ancient strain, 
He never thought to sing again. 
It was not framed for village churls. 
But for high dames and mighty earls ; 
He had play'd it to King Charles the Good, 
When he kept court in Holyrood ; 
And much he wish'd, yet feared, to try 
The long-forgotten melody. 



THE LAST MINSTREL. 



33 



Amid the strings his fingers stray'd, 
And an uncertain warbhng made, 
And oft he shook his hoary head. 
But when he caught the measure wild, 
The old man raised his face, and smiled ; 
And lighten'd up his faded eye, 
With all a poet's ecstasy 1 
In varying cadence, soft or strong, 
He swept the sounding chords along : 
The present scene, the future lot. 
His toils, his wants, were all forgot : 
Cold diffidence, and age's frost. 
In the full tide of song were lost ; 
Each blank, in faithless memory void, 
The poet's glowing thought supplied ; 
And, while his heart responsive wrung, 
'Twas thus the Latest Minstrel sung.^ 

1 [" In the very first rank of poetical excellence, we are inclined to place the 
introductory and concluding lines of every Canto, in which the ancient strain is 
suspended, and the feelings and situation of the minstrel himself described in 
the words of the author. The elegance and the beauty of this settings if we 
may so call it, though entirely of modern workmanship, appears to us to be 
fully more worthy of admiration than the bolder relief of the antiques which it 
encloses, and leads us to regret that the author should have wasted,, in imitation 
and antiquarian researches, so much of those powers which seem fully equal to 
the task of raising him an ifidependent reputation." — JEFFREY.] 



©ant^ "^ixst 



I. 

The feast was over in Branksome tower, ^ 

And the Ladye had gone to her secret bower ; 

Her bower that was guarded by word and by spell, 

Deadly to hear, and deadly to tell — 

Jesii Maria, shield us well ! 

No living wight, save the Ladye alone, 

Had dared to cross the threshold stone. 

n. 

The tables were drawn, it was idlesse all ; 

Knight, and page, and household squire, 
Loiter' d through the lofty hall. 

Or crowded round the ample fire : 
The stag-hounds, weary with the chase, 

Lay stretched upon the rushy floor, 
And urged, in dreams, the forest race, 

From Teviot-stone to Eskdale-moor.- 

1 See Appendix, Note A. 

2 [" The ancient romance owes much of its interest to the lively picture which 
it affords of the times of chivalry, and of those usages, maimers, and institutions, 
which we have been accustomed to associate in our minds with u certain com- 
bination of magnificence with simplicity, and ferocity with romantic honor. 
The representations contained in those performances, however, are for the most 
part too rude and naked to give complete satisfaction. The execution is always 
extremely unequal ; and though the writer sometimes touches upon the appro- 
priate feeling with great effect and felicity, still this appears to bo done ni'^.- l.v 



36 THE LAY OF [canto i. 

III. 
Nine-and-twenty knights of fame 

Hung their shields in Branksome-Hall; i 
Nine-and-twenty squires of name 

Brought them their steeds to bower from stall ; 
Nine-and-twenty yeomen tall 
Waited, duteous, on them all : 
They were all knights of mettle true, 
Kinsmen to the bold Buccleuch. 

IV. 

Ten of them were sheathed in steel, 
With belted sword, and spur on heel : 
They quitted not their harness bright, 
Neither by day, nor yet by night : 
They lay down to rest, 
With corslet laced, 
Pillow'd on buckler cold and hard ; 

They carved at the meal 

With gloves of steel. 
And they drank the red wine through the helmet barr'd. 

accident than design; and he wanders away immediately into all sorts of ludi- 
crous or uninteresting details, without any apparent consciousness of incon- 
gruity. These defects Mr. Scott has corrected with admirable address and 
judgment in the greater part of the work now before us ; and while he has ex- 
hibited a very striking and impressive picture of the old feudal usages and 
institutions, he has shown still greater talent in engrafting upon those descrip- 
tions all the tender or magnanimous emotions to which the circumstances of 
the story naturally give rise. Without impairing the antique air of the whole 
piece, or violating the simplicity of the ballad style, he has contrived, in this 
way, to impart a much greater dignity and more powerful interest to his pro- 
duction, than could ever be obtained by the unskilful and unsteady delinea- 
tions of the old romancers. Nothing, we think, can afford a finer illustration 
of this remark, than the opening stanzas of the whole poem ; they transport us 
at once into the days of knightly daring and feudal hostility, at the same time 
that they suggest, in a very interesting way, all those softer sentiments which 
arise out of some parts of the description." — JEFFREY.] 
1 See Appendix, Note B. 



CANTO I.] THE LAST MINSTREL. 3j 

V. 

Ten squires, ten yeomen, mail-clad men, 
' Waited the beck of the warders ten ; 
Thirty steeds, both fleet and wight. 
Stood saddled in stable day and night, 
Barbed with frontlet of steel, I trow. 
And with Jedwood-axe at saddlebow ; ^ 
A hundred more fed free in stall : — 
Such was the custom of Branksome-Hall. 

VI. 

Why do these steeds stand ready dight? 
Why watch these warriors, arm'd, by night? — 
They watch, to hear the blood-hound baying : 
They watch, to hear the war-horn braying ; 
To see St. George's red cross streaming, 
To see the midnight beacon gleaming : 
They watch, against Southern force and guile. 

Lest Scroop, or Howard, or Percy's powers, 

Threaten Branksome's lordly towers, 
From Warkworth, or Naworth, or merry Carlisle.- 

1 " Of a truth," says Froissart, " the Scottish cannot boast great skill with the 
bow, but rather bear axes, with which, in time of need, they give heavy strokes." 
The Jedwood-axe was a sort of partisan, used by horsemen, as appears from 
the arms of Jedburgh, which bear a cavalier mounted and armed with this 
weapon. It is also called a Jedwood or Jeddart staff. 

2 [See Appendix, Note C, and compare these stanzas with the description of 
Jamie Telfer's appearance at Branksome-Hall (Border Minstrelsy, vol. ii. p. 5), 
to claim the protection of "Auld Buccleuch " — and the ensuing scene (page 

9)- 

"'Ihc ScoUs they radc, the Scoiis ihcy ran, 
Sac starkly and sac steadilic ! 
And aye the owcr-word o' the thr.mg 

Was — * Rise for Branksomc rcadilic,' " ^^^ . 

Compare also the Ballad of* Kinmont Willie" {Harder Minstrci>\\s^y^. 11. p. sji. 

" Now word is gane to the bauld keeper, 
III r.r.mksonie ha' where that he lay," &c. — Ku.J 



LAY OP ■cjiyr*? i. 



-edden. 



Xo! 



CANTO I.] THE LAST MINSTREL. 



39 



IX. 

In sorrow o'er Lord Walter's bier 

The warlike foresters had bent ; 
And many a flower, and many a tear, 

Old Teviot's maids and matrons lent : 
But o'er her warrior's bloody bier 
The Ladye dropp'd nor flower nor tear ! ^ 

Vengeance, deep-brooding o'er the slain, 

Had lock'd the source of softer woe ; 
And burning pride, and high disdain, 

Forbade the rising tear to flow ; 
Until, amid his sorrowing clan, 

Her son lisp'd from the nurse's knee — 

Scotts and the Kerrs, there was a bond executed in 1529, between the heads of 
each clan, binding themselves to perform reciprocally the four principal pilgri- 
mages of Scotland for the benefit of the souls of those of the opposite name who 
had fallen in the quarrel. This indenture is printed in the Minstrelsy of the 
Scottish Border, vol. i. But either it never took effect, or else the feud was 
renewed shortly afterwards. 

Such pactions were not uncommon in feudal times; and, as might be ex- 
pected, they were often, as in the present case, void of the effect desired. When 
Sir Walter Mauny, the renowned follower of Edward III., had taken the town 
of Ryol in Gascony, he remembered to have heard that his father lay there buried, 
and offered a hundred crowns to any one who could show him his grave. A very 
old man appeared before Sir Walter, and informed him of the manner of his 
father's death, and the place of his sepulture. It seems tlie Lord of Mauny had, 
at a great tournament, unhorsed, and wounded to tlie death, a Gascon knight, of 
the house of Mirepoix, whose kinsman was Bishop of Cambray. For tliis deed 
he was held at feud by the relations of tlie knight, until he agreed to undertake 
a pilgrimage to the shrine of St. James of Compostella, for the benefit of tlio 
soul of the deceased. But as he returned through the town of Ryol. after ac- 
complishment of his vow, he was beset and treacherously slain by the kindred 
of the knight whom he had killed. Sir Walter, guided by the old man. visitnl 
the lowly tomb of his father; and, having read the inscription, whicli was in 
Latin, he caused the body to be raised and transported to his native city of 
Valenciennes, where masses were, in the days of Froissart, duly said for the 
soul of the unfortunate pilgrim.— ChrotiycU ^/FkoissarT, vol. i.. p. xaj. 

1 \Orii:. (ist Edition.) "The Ladye tlropp'il nor sigh nor tear."] 



40 



'}zz. LA ] ' Cr [canto I. 



My father's death revenged shall be ! " 
Then fast the mother's tears did seek 
To dew the infant's kindling cheek. 

X. 

Hm: .: Mir^- re: : er her slaughtered sire, 

£■■: :-.:: :.;::\t ~::.z \vr.z-: :rar 

H:.: ^::::. ,::t: .:.::: ht : : 
F: 5 r ; dous fear, 

H:._ leu: :^rir ir: mg ti ride : 
X : r in her mother's alter'd eye 
iLired she to look for sympathy. 

Her lover, 'gainst her father's clan. 

With Carr in arms had stood,i 
When ^lathouse-bum to Melrose ran. 

All purple with their blood ; 
And well she knew, her mother dread. 
Before Lord Cranstoun she would wed,^ 
Would see her on her dying bed. 

1 The familj of Ker, Kerr, or Carr * was very powerful on the Border. 
Fynes Morrison remarks, in his Travels, that their influence extended from the 
Tillage of Preston-Grange in Lothian, to the limits of England. Cessford Castle, 
the ancient baronial residence of the &mily, is situated near the village of More- 
battle, within two or three miles of the Cheviot Hilis. It has been a place of 
great strength and consequence, but is now ruinous. Tradition affirms that it 
was founded by Halbert, or Habby Kerr, a gigantic warrior, concerning whom 
many stories are current in Ro^uighshire. The Duke of Ro]d)nrghe repre- 
sents Kerr of Cessford, A distinct and powerful branch of the same name own 
the Marquis of Lothian as their chief. Hence the distinction betwixt Kerrs of 
Cessford and FaimihirsL 

^ The Cranstouns. Lord Cranstoun, are an ancient Border funily, whose 

* The name is spelt difieiendy by the varioas families who bear it. Carr is selected, 
not as correct, but as the most poetical reading. 



41 



CANTO I.] THE LAST MINSTREL. 

XL 

Of noble race the Ladye came, 
Her father was a clerk of fame, 

Of Bethune's line of Picardie : ^ 
He learn'd the art that none may name, 

In Padua, far beyond the sea.- 
Men said he changed his mortal frame 

By feat of magic mystery ; 
For when, in studious mood, he paced 

St. Andrew's cloister'd hall,^ 
His form no darkening shadow traced 

Upon the sunny wall ! ^ 

XII. 

And of his skill, as bards avow. 
He taught that Ladye fair, 

chief seat was at Crailing, in Teviotdale. They were at this time at feud with 
the clan of Scott; for it appears that the Lady Buccleuch, in 1557, beset the 
Laird of Cranstoun, seeking his life. Nevertheless, the same Cranstoun, or 
perhaps his son, was married to a daughter of the same lady. 

1 See Appendix, Note E. 

2 Padua was long supposed, by the Scottish peasants, to be tlie principal 
school of necromancy. The Earl of Gowrie, slain at Perth, in 1600, pretended 
during his studies in Italy to have acquired some knowledge of the cabala, by 
which, he said, he could charm snakes, and work other miracles; and, in par- 
ticular, could produce children without the intercourse of tlie sexes. — See the 
examination of Wemyss of Bogie before the Privy Council concerning Cowrie's 
Conspiracy. 

3 [First Edition — " St. Kcntigcnics hall." — St. Mungo, ur Kcntigcrn, is the 
patron saint of Glasgow?^ 

4 The shadow of a necromancer is indciiciulcnt of tlu* sun. (ilycas intorms 
us that Simon Magus caused his shadow to go before him, making people be- 
lieve it was an attendant spirit. — HEY wood's Hierarchie, p. 475. The vulgar 
conceive that when a class of students have made a certain progress in their 
mystic studies, they are obliged to run through a subterraneous hall, where the 
devil literally catches the hindmost in the race, unless he crosses the hall so 
speedily that the arch-enemy can only apiMehend his shallow. In the Uuiei 
case, the person of the sage never after throws any shade; and those who have 
thus lost their shadow always prove the best magicians. 



42 THE LAY OF [canto i. 

Till to her bidding she could bow 

The viewless forms of air.i 
And now she sits in secret bower, 
In old Lord David's western tower, 
And listens to a heavy sound, 
That moans the mossy turrets round. 
Is it the roar of Teviot's tide, 
That chafes against the scaur's '^ red side ? 
Is it the wind, that swings the oaks ? 
Is it the echo from the rocks ? 
What may it be, the heavy sound. 
That moans old Branksome's turrets round? 

XIII. 

At the sullen, moaning sound, 

The ban-dogs bay and howl ; 
And, from the turrets round, 

Loud hoops the startled owl. 
In the hall, both squire and knight 

Swore that a storm was near, 
And looked forth to view the night ; 

But the night was still and clear ! 

XIV. 

From the sound of Teviot's tide, 
Chafing with the mountain's side. 
From the groan of the wind- swung oak. 
From the sullen echo of the rock, 
From the voice of the coming storm, 

The Ladye knew it well ! 
It was the Spirit of the Flood that spoke, 

And he calFd on the Spirit of the Fell. 

1 See Appendix, Note F. 

2 Scaur ^ a precipitous bank of earth. 



I 



CANTO I.] THE LAST MINSTREL, 43 

XV. 

RIVER SPIRIT. 

" Sleep'st thou, brother? " — 

MOUNTAIN SPIRIT. 

— " Brother, nay — 
On my hills the moonbeams play. 
From Craik-cross to Skelfhill-pen, 
By every rill, in every glen. 

Merry elves their morris pacing, 

To aerial minstrelsy, 
Emerald rings on brown heath tracing, 

Trip it deft and merrily. 
Up, and mark their nimble feet ! 
Up, and list their music sweet ! " — 

XVI. 

RIVER SPIRIT. 

*' Tears of an imprisoned maiden 

Mix with my polluted stream ; 
Margaret of Branksome, sorrow-laden, 

Mourns beneath the moon's pale beam. 
Tell me, thou, who view'st the stars, 
When shall cease these feudal jars? 
What shall be the maiden's fate? 
Who shall be the maiden's mate? " — 

XVII. 

MOUNTAIN SPIRIT. 

"Arthur's slow wain liis (^oursc dolh roll, 
In utter darkness rouiul the pole ; 
The Northern lk\u* lowers l)l:Rk and i;rim, 
Orion's studded bell is dim ; 



44 



'^ LAY OF TcANTO I. 



S ni m iners tiir:'.:r': :":::-: ri:h ]:':.::e: star; 

111 may Ire: :t _ r re 
But no kind :: :: T t t . t t: 

On Teviot's : 7 i^sc^^cs :^,ver, 

nil pride : - t :d love be free." 

x^'III. 

The unearthl}- voices ceast. 

And the heavy sound was still ; 
It died on the river's breast. 

It died on the side of the hilL 
But round Lord David's tower 

The sound still floated near ; 
For it rung in the Ladye's bower. 

And it rung in the Ladye's ear. 
She raised her stately head. 

And her heart throbb'd higji with pride : 
" Your mountains shall bend. 
And your streams ascend. 

Ere l^Iaigaret be our foeman's bride ! ^ 

XIX. 

The Ladye sought the lofty haD, 

^Miere many a bold retainer lay. 
And, with jocund din, among them all. 

Her son puisued his infant play. 
A fancied moss-trooper,^ the boy 

The truncheon of a spear bestrode. 
And round the hall, right merrily, 

In mimic foray- rode. 

1 See Appendix, Note G, 

2 Foray, a predatoiy inroad. 




' Slic raisrd hor stiitcly lu'atl, 
And hvs Iicart tlin)i>i)M liiiz:h willi j)iiilc." 

('ANTO i. IS. 



I 



CANTO I.] THE LAST MINSTREL. ^- 

Even bearded knights, in arms grown old, 

Share in his frohc gambols bore, 
Albeit their hearts of rugged mould, 

Were stubborn as the steel they wore. 
For the gray warriors prophesied, 

How the brave boy, in future war, 
Should tame the Unicorn's pride, ^ 

Exalt the Crescent and the Star.^ 

XX. 

The Ladye forgot her purpose high. 

One moment, and no more ; 
One moment gazed with a mother's eye, 

As she paused at the arched door : 
Then from amid the armed train, 
She call'd to her William of Deloraine.^ 

XXI. 

A stark moss-trooping Scott was he, 
As e'er couch'd Border lance by knee : 
Through Solway sands, through Tarras moss, 
Blindfold, he knew the paths to cross ; 
By wily turns, by desperate bounds, 
Had baffled Percy's best blood-hounds ; ■* 
In Esk, or Liddell, fords were none, 
But he would ride them, one by one ; 

1 [This line, of wliicli tlie metre appears defective, would have its full com- 
plement of feet according to the pronunciation of the poet himself — as all who 
were familiar with his utterance of the letter /■ will bear testimony. — En.] 

•-2 The arms of the Kerrs of Cessford were Vert on a cheveron, betwixt three 
unicorns' heads erased arj^rut, three mullets sable; crest, a unicorn's head 
erased //YJ/i"/-. The Scotts of Buccleuch bore, Or, on a bend azure; a star of 
six points betwixt two crescents of the first. 

3 See Appendix, Note II. 

** See Appendix, Note I. 



46 THE LAY OF [canto i. 

Alike to him was time or tide, 
December's snow, or July's pride ; 
Alike to him was tide or time, 
Moonless midnight, or matin prime : 
Steady of heart, and stout of hand. 
As ever drove prey from Cumberland ; 
Five times outlawed had he been. 
By England's King, and Scotland's Queen. 

XXII. 

'' Sir William of Deloraine, good at need, 
Mount thee on the wightest steed ; 
Spare not to spur, nor stint to ride. 
Until thou come to fair Tweedside ; 
And in Melrose's holy pile 
Seek thou the monk of St. Mary's aisle. 

Greet the Father well from me ; 
Say that the fated hour is come, 

And to-night he shall watch with thee. 
To win the treasure of the tomb : 
For this will be St. Michael's night. 
And, though stars be dim, the moon is bright ; 
And the Cross, of bloody red, 
Will point to the grave of the mighty dead. 

XXIII. 

'' What he gives thee, see thou keep ; 

Stay not thou for food or sleep : 

Be it scroll, or be it book, 

Into it, Knight, thou must not look ; 

If thou readest, thou art lorn ! 

Better had'st thou ne'er been born." — 



1 




** Soon in his s.uldic sal. he fiist, 
And soon Ihc sleep deseenl lie past." 

Canto i. 25. 



CANTO I.] THE LAST MINSTREL. 



47 



XXIV. 

"O swiftly can speed my dapple-gray steed, 

Which drinks of the Teviot clear ; 
Ere break of day," the Warrior 'gan say, 

'' Again will I be here : 
And safer by none may thy errand be done, 

Than, noble dame, by me ; 
Letter nor line know I never a one, 

Were't my neck- verse at Hairibee.*' ^ 

XXV. 

Soon in his saddle sat he fast. 

And soon the steep descent he past, 

Soon cross'd the sounding barbican,- 

And soon the Teviot side he won. 

Eastward the wooded path he rode, 

Green hazles o'er his basnet nod ; 

He pass'd the PeeP of Goldiland, 

And crossed old Borthwick's roaring strand ; 

Dimly he view'd the Moat-hill's mound. 

Where Druid shades still flitted round : ^ 

In Hawick twinkled many a light ; 

1 Hairibec, the place of executing the Border marauders at Carlisle. The 
neck-verse is the beginning of the 51st Psalm, Afiserere tuei, &c., anciently read 
by criminals claiming the benefit of clergy. [" In the rough but spirited sketch 
of the marauding Borderer, and in the ndivcte of his last declaration, the reader 
will recognize some of the most striking features of the ancient ballad." — CW/i- 
cal Review?^ 

2 Barbican, the defence of the outer gate of a feudal cabtle. 
8 Peel, a Border tower. 

4 This is a round, artificial mount near Hawick, whiih. from its name ( JWot. 
.7;/^''. Sax., Concilium, (\)nvc'nlus),\\\\s probably anciently uscil as a place for 
assembling a national council of the aiijacent tribes. There arc many such 
mounds in Scotland, and they are sometimes, but rarely, of a square form. 



48 THE LAY OF [canto i. 

Behind him soon they set in night ; 
And soon he spurr'd his courser keen 
Beneath the tower of Hazeldean.^ 

XXYI. 

The clattering hoofs the watchmen mark : — 
'' Stand, ho ! thou courier of the dark." — 
'•'For BranksomCj ho I" the knight rejoin'd, 
And left the friendly tower behind. 

He turn'd him now from Teviotside, 
And, guided by the tinkling rill, 

Northward the dark ascent did ride, 
And gained the moor at Horsliehill; 

Broad on the left before him lay. 

For many a mile, the Roman way.^ 

XXVII. 

A moment now he slack'd his speed, 
A moment breathed his panting steed ; 
Drew saddle-girth and corslet-band, 
And loosen' d in the sheath his brand. 
On Minto-crags the moonbeams glint,^ 
Where Barnhill hew'd his bed of flint ; 
Who flung his outlaw'd limbs to rest, 
Where falcons hang their giddy nest, 
Mid cliffs, from whence his eagle eye 
For many a league his prey could spy ; 
Cliffs, doubhng, on their echoes borne, 

1 The estate of Hazeldean, corruptly Hassendean, belonged formerly to a 
family of Scotts, thus commemorated by Satchells : — 

Hassendean came without a call, 

The ancientest house among them all," 

- An ancient Roman road, crossing through part of Roxburghshire. 
3 See Appendix, Note K. 



CANTO I.] THE LAST MINSTREL, 

The terrors of the robber's horn ; 

Cliffs, which, for many a later year. 

The warbling Doric reed shall hear, 

When some sad swain shall teach the grove. 

Ambition is no cure for love ! 



XXVIII. 

Unchallenged, thence pass'd Deloraine, 
To ancient Riddel's fair domain, ^ 

Where Aill, from mountains freed, 
Down from the lakes did raving come ; 
Each wave was crested with tawny foam, 

Like the mane of a chesnut steed. 
In vain ! no torrent, deep or broad, 
Might bar the old moss-trooper's road. 



XXIX. 

At the first plunge the horse sunk low, 

And the water broke o'er the saddlebow ; 

Above the foaming tide, I ween, 

Scarce half the charger's neck was seen ; 

For he was barded^ from counter to tail, 

And the rider was armed complete in mail ; 

Never heavier man and horse 

Stemm'd a midnight torrent's force. 

The warrior's very plume, I say. 

Was daggled by the dashing spray; 

Yet, through good heart, and Our Ladye's grace, 

At length he gain'd the landing place. 

1 Sec Appendix, Note L. 

2 Barded, or barbed, — applied to a horse aeroutr.d \Mt'i .h t.-nsivf . 



49 



50 THE LAY OF [canto i. 

XXX. 

Now Bowden Moor the march- man won, 

And sternly shook his plumed head, 
As glanced his eye o'er Halidon ; i 

For on his soul the slaughter red 
Of that unhallow'd morn arose, 
When first the Scott and Carr were foes ; 
When royal James beheld the fray, 
Prize to the victor of the day ; 
When Home and Douglas, in the van, 
Bore down Buccleuch's retiring clan. 
Till gallant Cessford's heart-blood dear 
Reck'd on dark Elliot's Border spear. 

XXXI. 

In bitter mood he spurred fast, 

And soon the hated heath was past ; 

And far beneath, in lustre wan. 

Old Melros' rose, and fair Tweed ran : 

Like some tall rock with lichens gray, 

Seem'd dimly huge, the dark Abbaye. 

When Hawick he pass'd, had curfew rung. 

Now midnight lauds ^ were in Melrose sung. 

The sound, upon the fitful gale. 

In solemn wise did rise and fail. 

Like that wild harp, whose magic tone 

Is waken'd by the winds alone. 

But when Melrose he reach'd, 'twas silence all ; 

1 Halidon was an ancient seat of the Kerrs of Cessford, now demolished. 
About a quarter of a mile to the northward lay the field of battle betwixt Buc- 
cleuch and Angus which is called to this day the Skirmish Field. — See Appen- 
dix, Note C. 

2 Lauds, the midnight service of the Catholic church. 



CANTO I.] THE LAST MINSTREL, e I 

He meetly stabled his steed in stall, 
And sought the convent's lonely wall.i 



Here paused the harp ; and with its swell 

The Master's fire and courage fell : 

Dejectedly, and low, he bow'd, 

And, gazing timid on the crowd, 

He seem'd to seek, in every eye, 

If they approved his minstrelsy ; 

And, diffident of present praise. 

Somewhat he spoke of former days, 

And how old age, and wand'ring long, 

Had done his hand and harp some wrong. 

The Duchess, and her daughters fair. 

And every gentle lady there. 

Each after each, in due degree. 

Gave praises to his melody ; 

His hand was true, his voice was clear. 

And much they long'd the rest to hear. 

Encouraged thus, the Aged Man, 

After meet rest, again began. 

1 The ancient and beautiful monastery of Melrose was founded by King 
David I. Its ruins afford the finest specimen of Gothic architecture and Gothic 
sculpture which Scotland can boast. The stone of whicli it is built, though it 
has resisted the weather for so many ages, retains perfect sharpness, so that 
even the most minute ornaments seem as entire as when newly wrought. In 
some of the cloisters, as is liintcd in the next Canto, there are representations 
of flowers, vegetables, &c., carved in stone, with accuracy and precision so deli- 
cate, that we almost distrust our senses, when we consider the ditViculty of sub- 
jecting so hard a substance to such intricate and exquisite modulation. This 
superb convent was dedicated to St. Mary, and the monks were of the Cistcr- 
tian order. At the time of the Reformation, they shared in the general reproach 
of sensuality and irregularity thrown upon the Roman churchmen. The old 
words of Galashiels^ a fiivorite Scottish air, ran thus : — 

•' O the monks of Melrose made ^ude kale* 
On Friday when they fasted: 
They wanted neither heef nor ale, 
As lonij as their neighbors* I istcd." 
♦ KaU, broth. 



©atitxr M>tcon0,» 



I 



If thou would'st view fair Melrose aright,^ 

Go visit it by the pale moonlight ; 

For the gay beams of lightsome day 

Gild, but to flout, the ruins gray. 

When the broken arches are black in night, 

And each shafted oriel glimmers white ; 

When the cold light's uncertain shower 

Streams on the ruin'd central tower ; 

When buttress and buttress, alternately, 

Seem framed of ebon and ivory ; 

When silver edges the imagery. 

And the scrolls that teach thee to live and die ; ^ 

When distant Tweed is heard to rave, 

And the owlet to hoot o'er the dead man's grave, 

Then go — but go alone the while — 

Then view St. David's ruin'd pile ; ^ 

1 [" In the description of Melrose, which introduces the Second Canto, the 
reader will observe how skilfully the author calls in the aid of sentimental asso- 
ciations to heighten the effect of the picture which he presents to the eye." — 
Jeffrey.] 

2 The buttresses, ranged along the sides of the ruins of Melrose Abbey, are 
according to the Gothic style, richly carved and fretted, containing niches for 
the statues of saints, and labelled with scrolls, bearing appropriate texts of 
Scripture. Most of these statues have been demolished. 

3 David I. of Scotland purchased the reputation of sanctity, by founding 
and liberally endowing, not only the monastery of Melrose, but those of Kelso, 
Jedburgh, and many others ; which led to the well-known observation of his 
successor, that he was a sore saitit for the crown. 




If thou vvouldst vlt'W fair Molroso aright. 
Go visit it by tho \m\c mooiilighl." 

Canto ii 1 . 



CANTO II.] THE LAST MINSTREL. 

And, home returning, soothly swear, 
Was never scene so sad and fair ! 

II. 

Short halt did Deloraine make there ; 

Little reck'd he of the scene so fair : 

With dagger's hilt, on the wicket strong, 

He struck full loud, and struck full long. 

The porter hurried to the gate — 

*' Who knocks so loud, and knocks so late? " — 

" From Branksome I," the warrior cried ; 

And straight the wicket open'd wide : 

For Branksome 's chiefs had in battle stood, 

To fence the rights of fair Melrose ; 
And lands and livings, many a rood. 

Had gifted the shrine for their souls' repose.' 

III. 

Bold Deloraine his errand said ; 
The porter bent his humble head ; 
With torch in hand, and feet unshod, 
And noiseless step, the path he trod : 
The arched cloister, far and wide, 
Rang to the warrior's clanking stride, 
Till, stooping low his lofty crest, 
He cnterVl the cell of the ancient priest, 
And lifted his barred aventaylc,- 
To hail the Monk of St. Mary's aisle. 



:)j 



1 The Buccleuch family were great benetaetors to the Abbey of Melrose. .As 
early as the reign of Robert IT., Robert Scott, Baron of Murilieston and Kan- 
klebum (now Buccleuch), gave to the Monks the lands of Hinkery, in Kitrick 
Forest, pro salute attimcv sucb. — Chartulary of Melrose, 28th May, 14x5. 

2 Aventayle, visor of the helmet. 



54 THE LAY OF [canto ii. 

IV. 

" The Ladye of Branksome greets thee by me ; 

, Says, that the fated hour is come, 
And that to-night I shall watch with thee, 

To win the treasure of the tomb." — 
From sackcloth couch the jMonk arose, 

With toil his stiffen'd limbs he rear'd ; 
A hundred years had flung their snows 

On his thin locks and floating beard. 

V. 

And strangely on the Knight look'd he, 

And his blue eyes gleam'd wild and wide ; 
"And, darest thou. Warrior ! seek to see 

What heaven and hell alike would hide ? ' 
My breast, in belt of iron pent, 

W^ith shirt of hair and scourge of thorn ; 
For threescore years, in penance spent. 

My knees those flinty stones have worn ; 
Yet all too httle to atone 
For knowing what should ne'er be known. 

Would 'st thou thy every future year 
In ceaseless prayer and penance drie, 

Yet wait thy latter end with fear — 
Then, daring W^arrior, follow me ! " — 

VI. 

"Penance, father, will I none ; 
Prayer know I hardly one ; 
For mass or prayer can I rarely tarry, 
Save to patter an Ave Mary, 



CANTO II.] THE LAST MINSTREL. 



55 



When I ride on a Border foray. i 

Other prayer can I none ; 

So speed me my errand, and let me be gone." — 

VII. 

Again on the Knight look'd the Churchman old, 

And again he sighed heavily ; 
For he had himself been a warrior bold, 

And fought in Spain and Italy. 
And he thought on the days that were long since by, 
When his limbs were strong, and his courage was high : — 
Now, slow and faint, he led the way, 
Where, cloister'd round, the garden lay ; 
The pillar'd arches were over their head. 
And beneath their feet were the bones*of the dead.- 

VIII. 

Spreading herbs, and flowerets bright, 
Glisten'd with the dew of night ; 
Nor herb, nor floweret, gHsten'd there, 
But was carved in the cloister-arches as fair. 
The Monk gazed long on the lovely moon. 
Then into the night he looked forth ; 

1 The Borderers were, as may be supposed, very ignorant about religious 
matters. Colville, in his Parancsis, or Admonition^ states, tliat the reformed 
divines were so far from undertaking distant journeys to convert the Heathen, 
" as I wold wis at God that ye wold only go bot to the Hielands ami Borders of 
our own realm, to gain our awin countreymen, who, for lack of preching and 
ministration of the sacraments, must, with tyme, bccum cither intidclls or athe- 
ists.'" But we learn, from Lesley, that, however deficient in real religion, tlicy 
regularly told their beads, and never with more zeal than when going on a 
plundering expedition. 

2 The cloisters were frequently used as places of seiniltuic. An instance 
occurs in Dryburgh Abbey, where the cloister has an inscription bearing Hie 
jacet frater Archibaldus. 



56 THE LAY OF [canto ii. 

And red and bright the streamers light 
Were dancing in the glowing north. 
So had he seen, in fair Castile, 

The youth in glittering squadrons start : ^ 
Sudden the flying jennet wheel, 
And hurl the unexpected dart. 
He knew, by the streamers that shot so bright, 
That spirits w^ere riding the northern Ught. 



IX. 

By a steel- clenched postern door. 

They enter'd now the chancel tall : 
The darken 'd roof rose high aloof 

On pillars lofty and light and small : 
The key-stone, that lock'd each ribbed aisle, 
Was a fleur-de-lys, or a quatre-feuille : 
The corbells ^ were car\^ed grotesque and grim ; 
And the pillars, ^^dth cluster'd shafts so trim, 
With base and with capital flourished around. ^ 
Seem'd bundles of lances which garlands had bound. 



X. 

Full many a scutcheon and banner riven. 
Shook to the cold night-wind of heaven, 

Around the screened altar's pale ; 
And there the dying lamps did burn. 
Before thy low and lonely urn. 



1 See Appendix, Note M. 

2 Corbells, the projections from which the arches spring, usual'iy cut in a 
fantastic face, or mask. 

3 [" ^svCn pUyith and with capital flourish'd around." — First Editionl\ 



CANTO II.] THE LAST MINSTREL, r^ 

^/ 

O gallant Chief of Otterburne ! ^ 

And thine, dark Knight of Liddesdale ! - 
O fading honors of the dead ! 
O high ambition, lowly laid ! 

XI. 

The moon on the east oriel shone ^ 
Through slender shafts of shapely stone, 

By foHaged tracery combined ; 
Thou would'st have thought some fairy's hand 

1 The famous and desperate battle of Otterburne was fought 15th August, 
1388, betwixt Henry Percy, called Hotspur, and James, Earl of Douglas. Both 
these renowned champions were at the head of a chosen body of troops, and 
they were rivals in military fame ; so that Froissart affirms, "Of all the battayies 
and encounteryngs that I have madle mencion of here before in all this hystory, 
great or smalle, this battayle that I treat of nowe was one of the sorest and best 
foughten, without cowardes or faynte hertes : for there was neythcr knyghte 
nor squyer but that dyde his devoyre, and foughte hande to hande. This 
batayle was lyke the batayle of Becherell, the which was valiauntly fought and 
endured." The issue of the conflict is well known : Percy was made prisoner, 
and the Scots won the day, dearly purchased by the death of their gallant gen- 
eral, the Earl of Douglas, who was slain in the action. He was buried at Mel- 
rose, beneath the high altar. " His obsequye was done reverently, and on his 
bodye layde a tombe of stone, and his baner hangyng over him." — FROIS- 
SART, vol. ii. p. 165. 

2 See Appendix, Note N. 

3 It is impossible to conceive a more beautiful specimen of the lightness and 
elegance of Gothic architecture, when in its purity, than the eastern wintlow of 
Melrose Abbey. Sir James Hall of Dunglas, Bart., has, with great ingenuity 
and plausibility, traced the Gothic order through its various forms and seem- 
ingly eccentric ornaments, to an architectural imitation of wicker work; of 
which, as we learn from some of the legends, the earliest Christian churches 
were constructed. In sucii an edifice, the original of the clustered pillars is 
traced to a set of round posts, begirt with slender rods of willow, whose loose 
summits were brought to meet from all quarters, and bound together artiticially, 
so as to produce the frame-work of the roof: and the tracery of our (Jolhic 
windows is displayed in the meeting and interlacing of rods and hoops, afford- 
ing an inexhaustible variety of beautiful forms of open work. Tliis ingenious 
system is alluded to in the romance. Sir James Hall's Kssay on Golliic Archi- 
tecture is published in T/w lidinbur^h IViilosophical TraNsactions. 



58 THE LAY GF [canto ii. 

'Twixt poplars straight the ozier wand, 

In many a freakish knot, had twined ; 
Then framed a spell, when the work was done, 
And changed the willow-wreaths to stone. 
The silver light, so pale and faint, 
Shew'd many a prophet, and many a saint, 

Whose image on the glass was dyed ; 
Full in the midst, his Cross of Red 
Triumphant Michael brandished. 

And trampled the Apostate's pride. 
The moon-beam kiss'd the holy pane. 
And threw on the pavement a bloody stain. 

XII. 
They sate them down on a marble stone, ^ 

(A Scottish monarch slept below :) 
Thus spoke the Monk in solemn tone : — 

'^ I was not always a man of woe ; 
For Paynim countries I have trod, 
And fought beneath the Cross of God : 
Now, strange to my eyes thine arms appear, 
And their iron clang sounds strange to my ear. 

XIII. 
'' In these far climes it was my lot 
To meet the wondrous Michael Scott ; ^ 

A wizard of such dreaded fame, 
That when, in Salamanca's cave, ^ 
Him listed his magic wand to wave. 

The bells would ring in Notre-Dame ! ^ 

1 A large marble stone, in the chancel of Alelrose, is pointed out as the mon- 
ument of Alexander II., one of the greatest of our early kings; others say, it 
is the resting-place of Waldeve, one of the early abbots, who died in the odor 
of sanctity. 

2 See Appendix, Note O. 3 ibid. Note P. ^ ibid. Note Q. 



1 



CANTO II.] THE LAST MINSTREL. 



59 



Some of his skill he taught to me ; 

And, Warrior, I could say to thee 

The words that cleft Eildon hills in three. 

And bridled the Tweed with a curb of stone : ^ 
But to speak them were a deadly sin ; 
And for having but thought them my heart within, 

A treble penance must be done. 

XIV. 

" When Michael lay on his dying bed. 

His conscience was awakened : 

He bethought him of his sinful deed. 

And he gave me a sign to come with speed : 

I was in Spain when the morning rose, 

But I stood by his bed ere evening close. 

The words may not again be said. 

That he spoke to me, on deathbed laid ; 

They would rend this Abbey's massy nave, 

And pile it in heaps above his grave. 

XV. 

'' I swore to bury his Miglity Book, 
That never mortal might therein look ; 
And never to tell where it was hid, 
Save at his Chief of Branksome's need : 
And when that need was past and o'er, 

1 Michael Scott was, once upon a time, much embarrassed l)y a spirit, for 
whom he was under the necessity of finding constant employment. He com- 
manded him to build a cauld, or dam-liead, across the Tweed at Kelso; it was 
accomplished in one night, and still does honor to the infernal architect. 
Michael next ordered that Eildon hill, which was then a uniform cone, should 
be divided into three. Another night was sufficient to part its summit into the 
three picturesque peaks which it now bears. At length the enchanter con- 
quered this indefatigable demon, by employing him in the hopeless and end- 
less task of making ropes t)ut of sea-sand. 



60 ^-^^ ^'^^' OF [C.\NTO II. 

Again the volume to restore. 

I buried him on St. iSIichael's night. 

WTien the bell toird one, and the moon was bright, 

And I dug his chamber among the dead, 

When the floor of the chancel was stained red, 

That his patron's cross might over him wave, 

And scare the fiends from the Wizard's grave. 

XVI. 

^' It was a night of woe and dread, 

When Michael in the tomb I laid ! 

Strange sounds along the chancel pass'd, 

The banners waved without a blast " — 

— Still spoke the Monk, when the bell toU'd one \ — 

I tell you, that a braver man 

Than William of Deloraine, good at need, 

Against a foe ne'er spurr'd a steed ; 

Yet somewhat was he chill'd with dread, 

And his hair did bristle upon his head. 

XVII. 

•• Lo. Warrior ! now, the Cross of Red 

Points to the grave of the mighty dead ; 

^^'ithin it burns a wondrous light, 

To chase the spirits that lo\'e the night : 

That lamp shall bum unquenchably. 

Until the eternal doom shall be." — ^ 

Slow moved the monk to the broad flag- stone, 

Which the bloody Cross was traced upon : 

He pointed to a secret nook ; 

An iron bar the Warrior took ; ^ 

1 See Appendix, Note R. 

- \Orig. — A bjr from tfunce the warrior took,] 



CANTO II.] THE LAST MINSTREL. 5 1 

And the Monk made a sign with his wither'd hand, 
The grave's huge portal to expand. 

XVIII. 

With beating heart to the task he went ; 

His sinewy frame o'er the grave-stone bent ; 

With bar of iron heaved amain, 

Till the toil-drops fell from his brows, like rain. 

It was by dint of passing strength, 

That he moved the massy stone at length. 

I would you had been there, to see 

How the light broke forth so gloriously, 

Streamed upward to the chancel roof, 

And through the galleries far aloof ! 

No earthly flame blazed e'er so bright : 

It shone like heaven's own blessed light. 

And, issuing from the tomb, 
Show'd the Monk's cowl, and visage pale, 
Danced on the dark-brow'd Warrior's mail, 

And kiss'd his waving plume. 

XIX. 

Before their eyes the Wizard lay. 
As if he had not been dead a day. 
His hoary beard in silver roll'd, 
He seem'd some seventy winters old ; 

A palmer's amice wrapp'd him round. 

With a wrought Spanish baldric bound, 
Like a pilgrim from beyond the sea : 

His left hand held his l^ook o{ Might ; 

A silver cross was in his right ; 

The lamp was placed beside his knee : 
High and majestic was his look, 



62 ^ sz^ ^AV _- [CAXTO n. 

At. 



XX. 

Often had WflKarL. c: 7 - - -f 

Rode thioogh tbe b;: :r.. 

And trampled down T 

And neither knc^^r: rt t t : 

Yet now remoise ::.i :r- :.- 

His breath came : : : 

When this Strang T t 

Be¥dlder'd and m: : r .\- : : 

And the priest piay'd fervently and k>nd : 

\llth eyes averted prayed he; 

He might not endnre the sight to s^ 

Of the man he had loved so iHOtheily. 

XXI. 

And when the priest his death-jnayer had piay'd. 

Thus nnto Deloiaine he said : — 

" Now, speed thee what thon hast to do. 

Or. Warrior, we may dearly rue ; 

For those, thon may^st not look upon. 

Are gathering fest ronnd the yawning stcme ! " — 

Then Deloraine,.in terror, took 

From the cold hand the ^Mighty Book, 

With iron dasp'd, and with iron bound : 

1 [llie-agitalioo of flie inoiik at ffae sight of file mi- 
vith bnidieri J aflfectioii, tbe horror of Dekxaine, and t 
frowned, as be wilbdiew die magic ▼ohiine finom its gr^i 
part of tbe naiialive, rimiinstaiices not nKxe bappil} 
sildj wnx^ht.'* — Critical Remew^ 



CANTO II.] THE LAST MINSTREL. 63 

He thought, as he took it, the dead man frown 'd ; ^ 
But the glare of the sepulchral light, 
Perchance, had dazzled the warrior's sight. 



XXII. 

When the huge stone sunk o'er the tomb. 

The night return'd in double gloom ; 

For the moon had gone down, and the stars were few ; 

And, as the Knight and Priest withdrew. 

With wavering steps and dizzy brain. 

They hardly might the postern gain. 

'Tis said, as through the aisles they pass'd. 

They heard strange noises on the blast ; 

And through the cloister-galleries small, 

Which at mid-height thread the chancel wall, 

Loud sobs, and laughter louder, ran. 

And voices unlike the voice of man ; 

As if the fiends kept holiday. 

Because these spells were brought to day. 

I cannot tell how the truth may be ; 

I say the tale as 'twas said to me. 

XXIII. 

"Now, hie thee hence," the Father said, 

" And when we are on dcatli-bcd laid, 

O may our dear Ladyc, and sweet St. Jolui, 

1 William of Dclorainc niii^ht Ix^ strengthened in this belief by the well- 
known story of the Cid Ruy Diaz. When the body of that famous Christian 
champion was sitting in state by the high altar of the cathedral church of 
Toledo, where it remained for ten years, a certain malicious Jew attempted to 
pull him by the beard; but ho h i<l no sdoikm- touch.'d the formidable whiskers, 
than the corpse started up, and half unsheathed liis swortl. The Israelite fled; 
and so permanent was the effect of his terror, tliat he became Christian. — 
IIi<:ywo(JI)'s I/ierarchic\ p. ^8o. (juoli-d from Stbiistiiin Cobarrttvias Ootfe. 



64 THE LAY OF [canto ii. 

Forgive our souls for the deed we have done 1 " — 
The Monk return'd him to his cell, 

And many a prayer and penance sped ; 
When the convent met at the noontide bell — 
The Monk of St. Mary's aisle was dead ! 
Before the cross was the body laid, 
With hands clasp 'd fast, as if still he pray'd. 

XXIV. 

The Knight breathed free in the morning wind, 

And strove his hardihood to find : 

He was glad when he pass'd the tombstones gray, 

Which girdle round the fair Abbaye ; 

For the mystic Book, to his bosom prest. 

Felt like a load upon his breast ; 

And his joints, with nerves of iron twined. 

Shook, like the aspen leaves in wind. 

Full fain was he when the dawn of day 

Began to brighten Cheviot gray ; 

He joy'd to see the cheerful light. 

And he said Ave Mary, as well as he might. 

XXV. 

The sun had brighten'd Cheviot gray. 

The sun had brighten'd the Carter's ^ side ; 

And soon beneath the rising day 

Smiled Branksome Towers and Teviot's tide.^ 

The wild birds told their warbling tale, 
And waken'd every flower that blows ; 

And peeped forth the violet pale, 

1 A mountain on the border of England, above Jedburgh. 

2 [" How lovely and exhilarating is the fresh cool morning landscape which 
relieves the mind after the horrors of the spell-guarded tomb ! " — Anna 
Seward.] 




' Till! Kiii^hi anil (lie \/,u\\c fair air mrt, 
And under the liawlhonrs boughs air scl." 

Camo ii. L*S 



CANTO II.] THE LAST MINSTREL. g- 

And spread her breast the mountain rose. 
And lovelier than the rose so red, 

Yet paler than the violet pale, 
She early left her sleepless bed, 

The fairest maid of Teviotdale. 

XXVI. 

Why does fair Margaret so early awake, i 

And don her kirtle so hastilie ; 
And the silken knots, which in hurry she would make, 

Why tremble her slender fingers to tie ; 
Why does she stop, and look often around, 

As she glides down the secret stair ; 
And why does she pat the shaggy blood-hound. 

As he rouses him up from his lair ; 
And, though she passes the postern alone, 
Why is not the watchman's bugle blown ? 

XXVII. 

The ladye steps in doubt and dread. 

Lest her watchful mother hear her tread ; 

The ladye caresses the rough blood hound. 

Lest his voice should waken the castle round ; 

The watchman's bugle is not blown. 

For he was her foster-father's son ; 

And she glides through the greenwood at dawn of light. 

To meet Baron Henry, her own true knight. 

XXVIII. 

The Knight and the ladye fair are met, 
And under tlic hawthorn's boughs are set. 
A fairer pair were never seen 

1 ["How true, sweet, and original, is this description of Margaret, — the 
trembling haste with which she attires herself, descends, and speeds to the 
bower! " — Anna Seward.] 



66 THE LAV OF [canto ii. 

To meet beneath the hawthorn green. 

He was stately, and young, and tall ; 

Dreaded in battle, and loved in hall : 

And she, when love, scarce told, scarce hid, 

Lent to her cheek a livelier red ; 

When the half sigh her swelling breast 

Against the silken ribbon prest ; 

When her blue eyes their secret told. 

Though shaded by her locks of gold — 

Where would you find the peerless fair, 

With Margaret of Branksome might compare ! 

XXIX. 

And now, fair dames, methinks I see 

You listen to my minstrelsy ; 

Your waving locks ye backward throw, 

And sidelong bend your necks of snow : 

Ye ween to hear a melting tale, 

Of two true lovers in a dale ; 

And how the Knight, with tender iire, 
To paint his faithful passion strove ; 

Swore he might at her feet expire, 
But never, never cease to love ; 
And how she blush'd, and how she sigh'd, 
And, half consenting, half denied, 
And said that she would die a maid; — 
Yet, might the bloody feud be stay'd, 
Henry of Cranstoun, and only he, 
Margaret of Branksome's choice should be. 

XXX. 

Alas ! fair dames, your hopes are vain ! 
My harp has lost the enchanting strain ; 
Its lightness would my age reprove : 



CANTO II.] THE LAST MINSTREL, 57 

My hairs are gray, my limbs are old, 
My heart is dead, my veins are cold : 
I may not, must not, sing of love. 

XXXL 

Beneath an oak, moss'd o'er by eld, 
The Baron's Dwarf his courser held,^ 

And held liis crested helm and spear. 
That Dwarf was scarce an earthly man, 
If the tales were true that of him ran 

Through all the Border, far and near. 
'Twas said, when the Baron a-hunting rode 
Through Reedsdale's glens, but rarely trod, 

He heard a voice cry, " Lost ! lost ! lost ! " 

And, like tennis-ball by racket toss'd, 
A leap, of thirty feet and three. 

Made from the gorse this elfin shape. 

Distorted like some dwarfish ape. 

And lighted at Lord Cranstoun's knee. 

Lord Cranstoun was some whit dismay 'd ; 

'Tis said that five good miles he rade. 
To rid him of his company ; 
But where he rode one mile, the Dwarf ran four, 
And the I )warf was first at the castle door. 

XXXIL 

Use lessens marvel, it is said : 

This elvish Dwarf with the l>aron staid; 

Little he ate, and less he sj)oke, 

Nor mingled with the menial Hock : 

And oft apart his arms hr toss'd, 

And often muttcr'd, " Lost ! lost ! lost ! " 

1 Sec Ap|)(Muli\, Note S. 



68 THE LAY OF [canto ii. 

He was waspish, arch and litherlie,^ 

But well Lord Cranstoun served he : 
And he of his service was full fain ; 
For once he had been ta'en or slain. 

An it had not been for his ministry. 
All between Home and Hermitage, 
Talk'd of Lord Cranstoun's GobHn-Page. 

xxxni. 

For the Baron went on pilgrimage. 
And took with him this elvish Page, 

To ISIary's Chapel of the Lowes : 
For there, beside Our Ladye's lake. 
An offering he had sworn to make, 

And he would pay his vows. 
But the Ladye of Branksome gather'd a band 
Of the best that w^ould ride at her command : ^ 

1 [The idea of the imp domesticating himself with the first person he met, 
and subjecting himself to that one's authority, is perfectly consonant to old 
opinions. Ben Jonson, in his play of " The Devil is an Ass" has founded the 
leading incident of that comedy upon this article of the popular creed. A fiend, 
styled Pug, is ambitious of figuring in the world, and petitions his superior for 
permission to exhibit himself upon earth. The devil grants him a day-rule, 
but clogs it with this condition : — 

" Sata?i. — Only thus more, I bind you 

To sers-e the first man that you meet; and him 
I'll show you now; observe him, follow him; 
But, once engaged, there you must stay and fix.'* 

It is observable that in the same play, Pug alludes to the spareness of his 
diet. Mr. Scott's goblin, though "waspish, arch and litherlie," proves a faith- 
ful and honest retainer to the lord, into whose service he had introduced him- 
self. This sort of inconsistency seems also to form a prominent part of the 
diabolic character. Thus, in the romances of the Round Table, we find Merlin, 
the son of a devil, exerting himself most zealously in the cause of virtue and of 
religion, the friend and counsellor of King Arthur, the chastiser of wrongs, and 
the scourge of the infidels.] 

2 See Appendix, Note T. 



CANTO II.] THE LAST MINSTREL. 6q 

The trysting place was Newark Lee. 
Wat of Harden came thither amain, 
And thither came John of Thirlestane, 
And thither came WiUiam of Deloraine ; 

They were three hundred spears and three. 
Through Douglas-burn, up Yarrow stream,^ 
Their horses prance, their lances gleam. 
They came to St. Mary's lake ere day ; 
But the chapel was void, and the Baron away. 
They burn'd the chapel for very rage, 
And cursed Lord Cranstoun's Goblin-Page. 

XXXIV. 

And now, in Branksome's good green wood, 

As under the aged oak he stood. 

The Baron's courser pricks his ears. 

As jf a distant noise he hears. 

The Dwarf waves his long lean arm on high, 

And signs to the lovers to part and fly ; 

No time was then to vow or sigh. 

Fair Margaret, through the hazel grove, 

Flew like the startled cushat-dove : ^ 

The Dwarf the stirrup held and rein ; 

Vaulted the knight on his steed amain, 

And, pondering deep that morning's scene, 

Rode eastward throuiih the hawthorns iirecn. 



While thus he pour'd the lengthen'd talc, 
The Minstrel's voice began to fail : 
JMill slyly smiled the observant page, 

1 Sec notes on Xho. Dou^^las Trai^c-ify \\\ the Minstrelsy, vol. iii. p. 3.— l-'l>. 

2 Wood-pigeon. 



JO THE LAY OF THE E4ST .VEVSTREL. [a\NTO ii.] 

And gave the withered hand of age 
A goblet crown M with mighty wine, 
The blood of Velez' scorched vine. 
He raised the silver cup on high. 
And, while the big drop filled his eye, 
Pray'd God to bless the Duchess long, 
And all who cheer'd a son of song. 
The attending maidens smiled to see 
How long, how deep, how zealously. 
The precious juice the Minstrel quaffd ; 
And he. em'oolden'd by the draught, 
Look'd gaily back to them, and laugh 'd. 
The cordial nectar of the bowl 
Swell'd his old veins, and cheer'd his soul ; 
A lighter, livelier prelude ran, 
Ere thus his tale again began. 



®atit0 TUxviSi, 



I. 

And said I that my limbs were old, 
And said I that my blood was cold, 
And that my kindly fire was fled, 
And my poor wither'd heart was dead, 

And that I might not sing of love ? — 
How could I to the dearest theme, 
That ever warm'd a minstrel's dream, 

So foul, so false a recreant prove ! 
How could I name love's very name, 
Nor wake my heart to notes of flame ! 

n. 

In peace. Love tunes the shepherd's reed ; 

In war, he mounts the warrior's steed ; 

In halls, in gay attire is seen ; 

In hamlets, dances on the green. 

Love rules the court, the cam[), the grove, 

And men below, and saints al)ove; 

P'or love is hea\xMi, and licaven is love. 

ill. 

So thought Lord Cj-anstt)un, as 1 ween, 

While, pondering deej) the tender scene. 

He rode through Ilranksonie's h.iwthorn ^reen. 



72 THE LAY OF [canto iii. 

But the page shouted wild and shrill, 
And scarce his helmet could he don, 

When downward from the shady hill 
A stately knight came pricking on. 
That warrior's steed, so dapple-gray, 
Was dark with sweat, and splash 'd with clay ; 

His armor red with many a stain : 
He seem'd in such a wear}^ plight, 
As if he had ridden the live-long night ; 

For it was William of Deloraine. 

IV. 

But no whit weary did he seem. 

When, dancing in the sunny beam, 

He mark'd the crane on the Baron's crest ; ^ 

For his ready spear was in his rest. 

Few were the words, and stern and high. 
That mark'd the foemen's feudal hate ; 

For question fierce, and proud reply. 
Gave signal soon of dire debate. 
Their very coursers seem'd to know 
That each was other's mortal foe, 
xA.nd snorted fire, when wheel'd around, 
To give each knight his vantage-ground. 

V. 

In rapid round the Baron bent ; 

He sigh'd a sigh, and pray'd a prayer ; 
The prayer was to his patron saint, 

The sigh was to his ladye fair. 

1 The crest of the Cranstouns, in allusion to their name, is a crane dormant, 
holding a stone in his foot, with an emphatic Border motto, Thou shalt watit 
ere I want. 




" lie \y,\dr. the |);ilc«' to stanch the womul. 
And there heside (he \vanii)r stay." 

(-AN l() 111. 7. 



CANTO III.] THE LAST MINSTREL, 73 

Stout Deloraine nor sigh'd nor pray'd, 

Nor saint, nor ladye, call'd to aid ; 

But he stoop'd his head, and couch'd his spear, 

And spurr'd his steed to full career. 

The meeting of these champions proud 

Seem'd like the bursting thunder-cloud. 

VI. 

Stern was the dint the Borderer lent ! 

The stately Baron backwards bent ; 

Bent backwards to his horse's tail, 

And his plumes went scattering on the gale ; 

The tough ash spear, so stout and true, 

Into a thousand flinders flew. 

But Cranstoun's lance, of more avail. 

Pierced through, like silk, the Borderer's mail ; 

Through shield, and jack, and acton, past, 

Deep in his bosom broke at last. — 

Still sate the warrior saddle-fast. 

Till, stumbling in the mortal shock, 

Down went the steed, tlie girthing broke, 

Hurl'd on a heap lay man and horse. 

The Baron onward pass'd his course ; 

Nor knew — so giddy roU'd his brain — 

His foe lay stretch'd \\\)0\\ the ])lain. 

VII. 

]3ut wlien lie rcin'd liis courser round, 
And saw liis focman on the ground 

Lie senseless as the bloody clay. 
He l)a(lc his page to standi llic wound, 

And there beside the warrior stay, 
And tend him in his doubtful state, 



, 



74 THE LAY OF [canto hi. 

And lead him to Branksome castle-gate : 
His noble mind was inly moved 
For the kinsman of the maid he loved. 
" This shalt thou do without delay : 
No longer here myself may stay ; 
Unless the swifter I speed away, 
Short shrift will be at my dying day." 

VIII. 

Away in speed Lord Cranstoun rode ; 

The Goblin Page behind abode ; 

His lord's command he ne'er withstood, 

Though small his pleasure to do good. 

As the corslet off he took, 

The dwarf espied the mighty Book ! 

Much he marvell'd a knight of pride, 

Like a book-bosom'd priest should ride : ^ 

He thought not to search or stanch the wound, 

Until the secret he had found. 

IX. 

The iron band, the iron clasp. 
Resisted long the elfin grasp : 
For when the first he had undone, 
It closed as he the next begun. 
Those iron clasps, that iron band. 
Would not yield to unchristen'd hand, 

i " At Unthank, two miles N.E. from the church (of Ewes) there are the 
ruins of a chapel for divine service, in time of Popery. There is a tradition 
that friars were wont to come from Melrose, or Jedburgh, to baptize and marry, 
in this parish ; and from being in use to carry the mass-book in their bosoms, 
they were called, by the inhabitants, Book-a-boso7nes, There is a man yet alive, 
who knew old men who had been baptized by these Book-a-bosomes, and who 
says one of them, called Hair, used this parish for a very long time." — Account 
of Parish of Ewes ^ apud Macfarlane s MSS. 



CANTO III.] THE LAST MINSTREL. 

Till he smear'd the cover o'er 

With the Borderer's curdled gore ; 

A moment then the volume spread, 

And one short spell therein he read, 

It had much of glamor ^ might, 

Could make a ladye seem a knight ; 

The cobwebs on a dungeon wall 

Seem tapestry in lordly hall ; 

A nut-shell seem a gilded barge, 

A sheeling ^ seem a palace large, 

And youth seem age, and age seem youth — 

All was delusion, nought was truth.^ 



X. 

He had not read another spell. 

When on his cheek a buffet fell. 

So fierce, it stretch'd him on the plain. 

Beside the wounded Deloraine. 

From the ground he rose dismay'd, 

And shook his huge and matted head ; 

One word he mutter'd, and no more. 

" Man of age, thou smitest sore ! " — 

No more the Elfin Page durst try 

Into the wondrous Book to pry ; 

The clasi)s, though smear'd with Christian gore, 

Shut faster than they were before. 

He hid it underneath his cloak. — 

Now, if you ask who gave the stroke, 

I cannot tell, so mot I thrive ; 

It was not given by man alive. "* 

1 Magical delusion. '^ A shepherd's hut. 

8 Sec Appendix, Note U. ** Ibid. Note \'. 



75 



76 THE LAY OF [canto hi. 

XI. 

Unwillingly himself he address 'd, 

To do his master's high behest : 

He lifted up the living corse, 

And laid it on the weary horse ; 

He led him into Branksome Hall, 

Before the beards of the warders all ; 

And each did after swear and say. 

There only pass'd a wain of hay. 

He took him to Lord David's tower, 

Even to the Ladye's secret bower ; 

And, but that stronger spells were spread, 

And the door might not be opened, 

He had laid him on her very bed. 

Whate'er he did of gramarye,^ 

Was always done maliciously ; 

He flung the warrior on the ground, 

And the blood well'd freshly from the wound. 

xn. 

As he repass'd the outer court, 

He spied the fair young child at sport : 

He thought to train him to the wood ; 

For, at a word, be it understood, 

He was always for ill, and never for good. 

Seem'd to the boy, some comrade gay 

Led him forth to the woods to play ; 

On the drawbridge the warders stout 

Saw a terrier and lurcher passing out. 

1 Magic. 



CANTO III.] THE LAST MINSTREL. yy 

xiir. 

He led the boy o'er bank and fell, 

Until they came to a woodland brook ; 

The running stream dissolved the spell/ 
And his own elfish shape he took. 

Could he have had his pleasure vilde, 

He had crippled the joints of the noble child ; 

Or, with his fingers long and lean, 

Had strangled him in fiendish spleen : 

But his awful mother he had in dread, 

And also his power was limited ; 

So he but scowl'd on the startled child, 

And darted through the forest wild ; 

The woodland brook he bounding cross'd. 

And laugh'd, and shouted, " Lost ! lost ! lost ! *' 

XIV. 

Full sore amazed at the wondrous change, 

And frightened as a child might be, 
At the wild yell and visage strange. 

And the dark words of gramarye, 
The child, amidst the forest bower, 
Stood rooted like a lily flower ; 



1 It is a firm article of popular faith, that no enchantment can subsist in a 
living stream. Nay, if you can interpose a brook betwixt you and Nvitches, 
spectres, or even fiends, you are in perfect safety. Burns' inimitable Tarn o* 
Shafitcr turns entirely upon such a circumstance. The bi'lief seems to be of 
antiquity. Brompton informs us- that certain Irish wizards could, by spells, 
convert earthen clods, or stones, into fat pigs, which they solil in the market ; 
but which always reassumed their j^roper form, when driven by the deceived 
purchaser across a running stream. But Brompton is severe on the Irish for a 
very good reason, " CJens ista spurcissima non solvunt dccimas.*'— Chronuon 
yohaftnis Brompton, apud decern Scriptorcs, p. 1076, 



78 THE LAY OF [canto hi. 

And when at length, with trembling pace, 

He sought to find where Branksome lay, 
He fear'd to see that grisly face 

Glare from some thicket on his way. 

Thus, starting oft, he journey'd on, 

And deeper in the wood is gone, — 

For aye the more he sought his way. 

The farther still he went astray, — 

Until he heard the mountains round 

Ring to the baying of a hound. 

XV. 

And hark ! and hark ! the deep-mouth'd bark 

Comes nigher still, and nigher : 
Bursts on the path a dark blood- hound, 
His tawny muzzle track'd the ground, 

And his red eye shot fire. 
Soon as the wilder'd child saw he. 
He flew at him right furiouslie. 
I ween you would have seen with joy 
The bearing of the gallant boy. 
When, worthy of his noble sire. 
His wet cheek glow'd 'twixt fear and ire ! 
He faced the blood-hound manfully. 
And held his little bat on high ; 
So fierce he struck, the dog, afraid, 
At cautious distance hoarsely bay'd, 

But still in act to spring ; 
When dash'd an archer through the glade, 
And when he saw the hound was stay'd. 

He drew his tough bow-string ; 
But a rough voice cried, ^^ Shoot not, hoy ! 
Ho ! shoot not, Edward — 'Tis a boy ! " 



CANTO III.] THE LAST MINSTREL. y^ 

XVI. 

The speaker issued from the wood, 
And check'd his fellow's surly mood, 

And quell'd the ban-dog's ire : 
He was an English yeoman good, 

And born in Lancashire. 
Well could he hit a fallow-deer 

Five hundred feet him fro ; 
With hand more true, and eye more clear. 

No archer bended bow. 
His coal-black hair, shorn round and close, 

Set off his sun-burn'd face : 
Old England's sign, St. George's cross. 

His barret-cap did grace ; 
His bugle-horn hung by his side, 

All in a wolf-skin baldric tied : 
And his short falchion, sharp and clear. 
Had pierced the throat of many a deer. 

xvn. 

His kirtle, made of forest green, 

Reach'd scandy to his knee ; 
And, at his belt, of arrows keen 

A furbish 'd sheaf bore he ; 
His buckler scarce in breadth a span 

No larger fence had he ; 
He never counted him a man. 

Would strike below the knee : • 

1 Imitated from Drayton's account t)t Robin Hood and his followers: — 

" A hundred valiant incii had this brave Kohiii llooil, 
Still ready at Ids call, that huwmcu were right .i;«)ih1 : 
All i:lad in Lincoln green, with caps nf red and hlnc, 
His fellow's winded horn not one of il"i'i '"H I. n.w 



8o THE LAY OF [canto ill. 

His slacken'd bow was in his hand, 

And the leash, that was his blood-hound's band. 

XVIII. 

He would not do the fair child harm, 
But held him with his powerful arm, 
That he might neither fight nor flee ; 
For when the Red-Cross spied he, 
The boy strove long and violently. 

When setting to their lips their bugles shrill, 

The warbling echoes waked from every dale and hill; 

Their bauldrics set with studs athwart their shoulders cast, 

To which under their arms their sheafs were buckled fast, 

A short sword at their belt, a buckler scarce a span, 

Who struck below the knee not counted then a man. 

All made of Spanish yew, their bows were wondrous strong. 

They not an arrow drew but was a clothyard long. 

Of archery they had the very perfect craft. 

With broad arrow, or but, or prick, or roving shaft." 

PoIy-Albzon,Song26. 

To wound an antagonist in the thigh, or leg, was reckoned contrary to the 
law of arms. In a tilt betwixt Gawain Michael, an English squire, and Joachim 
Cathore, a PYenchman, " they met at the speare poyntes rudely : the French 
squyer justed right pleasantly ; the Englishman ran too lowe, for he strak the 
Frenchman depe into the thigh. Wherewith the Erie of Buckingham was right 
sore displeased, and so were all the other lords, and sayde how it was shame- 
fully done." — Froissart, vol i., chap. 366. Upon a similar occasion, " the 
two knyghts came a fote eche against other rudely, with their speares low 
couched, to stryke eche other within the foure quarters. Johan of Castell- 
Morant strake the English squyer on the brest in such wyse, that Syr Wyllyam 
Fermetone stombled and bowed, for his fote a lyttel fayled him. He helde his 
speare lowe with both his handes, and coude nat amende it, and strake Syr 
Johan of the Castell-Morant in the thighe, so that the speare went clene 
throughe, that the heed was sene a handfuU on the other syde. And Syr Johan 
with the stroke reled, but he fell nat. Than the Englyshe knyghtes and squyers 
were ryghte sore displeased, and sayde how it was a foule stroke. Syr Wyl- 
lyam Fermetone excused himselfe, and sayde how he was sorie of that adven- 
ture, and howe that yf he had knowen that it shulde have bene so, he wolde 
never have begon it ; sayenge how he could nat amend it, by cause of glaunsing 
of his fote by constraynt of the great stroke that Syr Johan of the Castell- 
Morant had given him." — FROISSART, vol. i., chap. 373. 




Hi; would not do (lie fair child hanu 
Hut lu'ld liiin with his [jowriful arm." 

('.VNPO iii. l"^. 



CANTO III.] THE LAST MINSTREL. gl 

'^Now, by St. George/' the archer cries, 
'^ Edward, niethinks we have a prize ! 
This boy's fair face, and courage free. 
Show he is come of high degree." — 

XIX. 

^^Yes ! I am come of high degree. 

For I am the heir of bold Buccleuch ; 
And, if thou dost not set me free. 

False Southron, thou shalt dearly rue ! 
For Walter of Harden shall come with speed, 
And William of Deloraine, good at need, 
And every Scott, from Esk to Tweed \ 
And, if thou dost not let me go, 
Despite thy arrows, and thy bow, 
I'll have thee hang'd to feed the crow ! " — 

XX. 

" Gramercy, for thy good- will, fair boy ! 
My mind was never set so high; 
But if thou art chief of such a clan, 
And art the son of such a man. 
And ever comest to thy command, 

Our wardens had need to keep good order ; 
My bow of yew to a hazel wand, 

Thou'lt make them work upon the Border. 
Meantime, be pleased to come with me, 
For good Lord Dacre shalt thou see ; 
I think our work is well begun, 
When we have taken thy father's son." 

XXI. 

Although the child was led away. 
In Branksome still he seem'd lo stay, 



82 THE LAY OF [canto hi. 

For so the Dwarf his part did play ; 
And, in the shape of that young boy, 
He wrought the castle much annoy. 
The comrades of the young Buccleuch 
He pinch'd, and beat, and overthrew ; 
Nay, some of them he wellnigh slew. 
He tore Dame Maudlin's silken tire. 
And, as Sym Hall stood by the fire, 
He hghted the match of his bandelier,! 
And wofuUy scorch'd the hackbuteer.^ 
It may be hardly thought or said. 
The mischief that the urchin made. 
Till many of the castle guess'd, 
That the young Baron was possess'd ! 

XXH. 

Well I ween the charm he held 
The noble Ladye had soon dispell'd ; 
But she was deeply busied then 
To tend the wounded Deloraine. 

Much she wonder' d to find him lie. 

On the stone threshold stretch'd along ; 

She thought some spirit of the sky 

Had done the bold moss-trooper wrong ; 
Because, despite her precept dread. 
Perchance he in the Book had read ; 
But the broken lance in his bosom stood, 
And it was earthly steel and wood. 

1 Bandelier, belt for carrying ammunition. 

2 Hackbuteer, musketeer. 



CANTO III.] THE LAST MINSTREL. gj 

XXIII. 

She drew the sphnter from the wound, 

And with a charm she stanch'd the blood ; ^ 
She bade the gash be cleansed and bound : 

No longer by his couch she stood ; 
But she has ta'en the broken lance, 

And washed it from the clotted gore, 

And salv^ed the splinter o'er and o'er.- 
William of Deloraine, in trance, 

Whene'er she turn'd it round and round. 

Twisted as if she gall'd his wound. 
Then to her maidens she did say, 

That he should be whole man and sound. 
Within the course of a night and day. 
Full long she toil'd ; for she did rue 
Mishap to friend so stout and true. 

XXIV.3 

So pass'd the day — the evening fell, 
'Twas near the time of curfew bell ; 
The air was mild, the wind was calm, 

1 See several charms for this purpose in Reginald Scott's Discovery of 
Witchcraft, p. 273. 

" Tom Potts was but a serving man, 
P)iit yet he was a doctor good; 
He bound his handkerchief on tlie wouiul, 
And with some kinds of words he stanched the blood." 

Pieces of Ancient Popular Poetry, Loml.. 1791, p. \\\. 

2 See Appendix, Note W. 

'^ ["As another illustration of the prodij^ious iniprovenient which tlie style of 
the old romance is capable of receiving from a more liberal admixture of pa- 
thetic sentiments and gentle affections, we insert the following passage, Stanras 
xxiv. to xxvii., where the effect of the picture is finely assisted by the contr;ist of 
its two comixutnu-nts." — ) i:iM'Ki:v.] 



84 THE LAY OF [CANTO iii. 

The stream was smooth, the dew was bahn ; 
E'en the rude watchman, on the tower, 
Enjoy'd and bless 'd the lovely hour. 
Far more fair ^Margaret loved and blessed 
The hour of silence and of rest. 
On the high turret sitting lone, 
She waked at times the lute's soft tone ; 
Touch'd a wild note, and all between 
Thought of the bower of hawthorns green. 
Her golden hair stream'd free from band, 
Her fair cheek rested on her hand, 
Her blue eyes sought the west afar, 
For lovers love the western star. 

XXV. 

Is yon the star, o'er Penchryst Pen, 

That rises slowly to her ken. 

And, spreading broad its wavering light, 

Shakes its loose tresses on the night? 

Is yon red glare the western star ? — 

O, 'tis the beacon-blaze of war ! 

Scarce could she draw her tightened breath. 

For well she knew the fire of death ! 

XXVI. 

The Warder view'd it blazing strong, 
And blew his war-note loud and long. 
Till, at the high and haughty sound, 
Rock, wood, and river, rung around. 
The blast alarm'd the festal hall, 
And startled forth the warriors all ; 
Far downward, in the castle-yard, 
' Full many a torch and cresset glared ; 
And helms and plumes, confusedly toss'd. 



% 




*' Ou the Int^h turret sifliiii; loiio 
She waked at times the hite's soft tone." 

(VxNTo iii ^' \- 



CANTO III.] THE LAST MINSTREL. g- 



Were in the blaze half-seen, half-lost ; 
And spears in wild disorder shook, 
Like reeds beside a frozen brook. 

xxvir. 

The Seneschal, whose silver hair 
Was redden'd by the torches' glare, 
Stood in the midst, with gesture proud. 
And issued forth his mandates loud : — 
" On Penchryst glows a bale ^ of fire. 
And three are kindling on Priesthaughswire ; 

Ride out, ride out, 

The foe to scout ! 
Mount, mount for Branksome,^ every man ! 
Thou, Todrig, warn the Johnstone clan. 

That ever are true and stout — 
Ye need not send to Liddesdale ; 
For when they see the blazing bale, 
Elliotts and Armstrongs never fail. — 
Ride, Alton, ride, for death and life ! 

1 Bale, beacon-fagot. The border beacons, from their number and position, 
formed a sort of telegraphic communication with Edinburgh. The act of Par- 
liament, 1455, c. 48, directs, that one bale or fagot shall be warning of the ap- 
proach of the English in any manner; two bales that they are coming indeed: 
four bales, blazing beside each other, that the enemy are in great force. " The 
same taikenings to be watched and maid at Eggerhope (Eggerstand) Castell, 
fra they se the fire of Hume, that they fire right swa. And in like manner on 
Sowtra Edge, sail sc the fire of Eggerhope Castell, and mak taikcning in like 
manner: And then may all Louthaine be warned, and in special the Castell of 
Edinburgh ; and their four fires to be made in like manner, that they in Fife, 
and fra Striveling east, and the east part of Louthiane, and to Dunbar, all may 
se them, and come to the defence of the realme." These beacons (at least in 
latter times) were a " long and strong tree set u|^ with a long iron pole across 
the head of it, and an iron brander fixed on a stalk in the middle k^I it, for liold- 
ing a tar-barrel." — Stkvknson's History, vol. ii., p. 701. 

'-^ Mount for Ihanksome was the gathering word of the Scotts. 



S6 ^--^^ ^^V OF' [CANTO in. 

Acd ^\Mr:: the w^j-ie: :: :hr srrife. 
Youn^ Gibber:, le: cur :euc;:: biaze. 
Our kin, and clan, and friends, to raise. " ^ 

XX\'III. 

He-.-. :-. -r,: .. :.-., :::,,:, ::,:.i^ 

AMiile loud the harrr^s : :^ 
As to their seats, wi: e ^. 

The ready horsen.e:: ■ : :_ 
And trampling hoo&, and iron coats. 
And leaders' voices, mingled notes. 
And out ! and out 3 
In hasty route, 

The horsemen gaDop'd forth ; 
Dispersing to the south to scout, 

And east, and w^t, and north. 
To view their coming enemies. 
And warn their vassals and allies. 

xx:x. 

T: e rrady page, wi: 7 

i the need-fire's 3 slumbering brand, 
' :y bhish'd the heaven : 
Fc : : of flame, from the turret high. 

Waved like a blood-flag on the sky. 

All flaring and uneven : 
And soon a score of fires. I ween. 



1 See Appendix. Note X. 

* * We absolute'iv see the fires kindling, one after another, in the foDowin^ " 
animated descriptioii.'' — Ammmal Review, 1804.] 

* Seed-^e^ beacon. 



CANTO III.] THE LAST MINSTREL. 



87 



From height, and hill, and cliff, were seen ; 

Each with warlike tidings fraught ; 

Each from each the signal caught ; 

Each after each they glanced to sight, 

As stars arise upon the night. 

They gleam'd on many a dusky tarn,i 

Haunted by the lonely earn ; - 

On many a cairn's ^ gray pyramid. 

Where urns of mighty chiefs lie hid ; 

Till high Dunedin the blazes saw. 

From Soltra and Dumpender Law ; 

And Lothian heard the Regent's order. 

That all should bowne ^ them for the Border. 

XXX. 

The livelong night in Branksome rang 

The ceaseless sound of steel ; 
The castle-bell, with backward clang, 

Sent forth the larum peal ; 
Was frequent heard the heavy jar, 
Where massy stone and iron bar 

1 Tarn, a mountain lake. 2 Earn, a Scottish cacjle. 

'^ The cairns, or piles of loose stones, which crown the summit of most of our 
Scottish hills, and are found in other remarkable situations, seem usually, 
though not universally, to have been sepulchral monuments. Six flat stones 
are commonly found in the centre, forming a cavity of greater or smaller dimen- 
sions, in which an urn is often placed. The author is possessed of one discov- 
ered beneath an immense cairn at Roughlce, in Liddesdale. It is of the 
most barbarous construction; the middle of tlie substance alone having been 
subjected to the fire, over which, when hardened, the artist liad laid an inner 
and outer coat of unbaked clay, etched with some very rude ornaments ; his 
skill apparently being inadequate to baking the vase, when comj)letely finished. 
The contents were bones and ashes, and a (luatitity of beads made of coal. 
This seems to have been a barbarous imitation ot the Roman fashion of sepul- 
ture. 

■* Ihnvnc, make ready. 



88 THE LAY OF [canto iir. 

Were piled on echoing keep and tower, 
To whelm the foe with deadly shower ; 
Was frequent heard the changing guard, 
And watch-word from the sleepless ward ; 
While, wearied by the endless din, 
Blood-hound and ban-dog yell'd within. 

XXXI. 

The noble Dame, amid the broil, 
Shared the gray Seneschal's high toil, 
And spoke of danger with a smile ; 

Cheer'd the young knights, and council sage 
Held with the chiefs of riper age. 
No tidings of the foe were brought, 
Nor of his numbers knew they aught. 
Nor what in time of truce he sought. 

Some said, that there were thousands ten ; 
And others ween'd that it was nought 

But Leven Clans, or Tynedale men, 
Who came to gather in black-mail ; ^ 
And Liddesdale, with small avail. 

Might drive them lightly back agen. 
So pass'd the anxious night away, 
And welcome was the peep of day. 



CKA.SED the high sound — the listening throng 
Applaud the Master of the Song ; 
And marvel much, in helpless age, 
So hard should be his pilgrimage. 
Had he no friend — no daughter dear. 
His wandering toil to share and cheer ; 

1 Protection-money exacted by freebooters. 



CANTO III.] THE LAST MINSTREL. gg 

No son to be his father's stay, 

And guide him on the rugged way ? 

'' Ay, once he had — but he was dead ! " — 

Upon the harp he stoop'd his head. 

And busied himself the strings withal, 

To hide the tear that fain would fall. 

In solemn measure, soft and slow, 

Arose a father's notes of woe.^ 

1 [" Nothing can excel the simple, concise pathos of the close of this Canto, 
nor the touching picture of the Bard when, with assumed business^ he tries to 
conceal real sorrow. How well the poet understands the art of contrast, and 
how judiciously it is exerted in the exordium of the next Canto, where our 
mourning sympathy is exchanged for the thrill of pleasure!" — Anna SEW- 
ARD.] 



Cattt0 IfjoxxvtTt* 



I. 

Sweet Teviot ! on thy silver tide 

The glaring bale-fires blaze no more ; 

Xo longer steel-clad warriors ride 

Along thy wild and willow'd shore ; ^ 

Where'er thou wind'st. by dale or hill, 

All, all is peaceful, all is still, 

As if thy waves, since Time was bom, 

Since first they roU'd upon the Tweed, ^ 

Had only heard the shepherd's reed, 
Nor started at the bugle-horn. 

II. 

Unlike the tide of human time, 

Which, though it change in ceaseless flow. 
Retains each grief, retains each crime. 

Its earhest course was doom'd to kno\v ; 
And, darker as it downward bears, 
Is stain'd with past and present tears. 

Low as that tide has ebb'd w^ith me, 
It still reflects to Memory's eye 
The hour my brave, my only boy, 

Fell by the side of great Dundee. ^ 

1 [" What luxury of sound in this line ! " — Anna Seward,] 

2 [Ori^. " Since first they rolled tkeir way to Tweed."] 

3 The Viscount of Dundee, slain in the battle of Killicrankie. 



[CANTO IV.] THE LAY OF THE LAST MINSTREL. gi 

Why, when the volleying musket play'd 
Against the bloody Highland blade, 
Why was not I beside him laid ! — 
Enough — he died the death of fame ; 
Enough — he died with conquering Graeme.^ 



III. 

Now over Border dale and fell, 

Full wide and far was terror spread ; 
For pathless marsh, and mountain cell, 

The peasant left his lowly shed.^ 

1 [" Some of the most interesting passages of tlie poem are those in which 
the author drops the business of his story to moralize, and apply to his own sit- 
uation the images and reflections it has suggested. After concluding one Canto 
with an account of the warlike array which was prepared for the reception of 
the English invaders, he opens the succeeding one with the following beautiful 
verses (stanzas i. and ii.). 

" There are several other detached passages of equal beauty, which might be 
quoted in proof of the effect which is produced by this dramatic interference of 
the narrator." — J EP^FREY.]* 

* [No one will dissent from this, who reads, in particular, the first two and heart- 
glowing stanzas of Canto VI. — noiv, by association of the past, rendered the more affect- 
ing. — Ed,] 

2 The morasses were the usual refuge of the Border herdsmen, on the ap- 
proach of an English army. — {Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border, vol. i.. p. 393.) 
Caves, hewed in the most dangerous and inaccessible places, also afforded an 
occasional retreat. Such caverns may be seen in the precipitous banks of the 
Teviot at Sunlaws, upon the Ale at Ancram, upon the Jed at Hundaleo, and in 
many other places upon the Border. The banks of the Eskc, at Ciorton \\\\i\ 
Hawthornden, are hollowed into similar recesses. But even tliese dreary dens 
were not always secure places of concealment. " In the way as we came, not 
far from this place (Long Niddry), George Ferrcs, a gentleman of my Lord 
Protector's . . . happened upon a cave in the grounde, tlie mouth whereof was 
so worne with the fresh printe of steps, that he seemed to be certayne thear wear 
some folke within ; and gone doimi* to trie, lie was redily receyvi'il \\\\\\ a hakc- 
but or two, I le left them not yet, till he hail known wheytluT tlu-i woUi be con- 
tent to yield and come out ; which they fondly refusing, he went to my lordc's 
grace, and upon utterance of the thynge, gat licence to deale with them as he 
coulde ; and so returned to tliem, with a score or two of pioners. Three vcntes 



92 THE LAY OF [canto iv. 

The frighten'd flocks and herds were pent 
Beneath the peel's rude battlement : 
And maids and matrons dropp'd the tear. 
While ready warriors seized the spear. 
From Branksome's towers, the watchman's eye 
Dun wreaths of distant smoke can spy, 
Which, curling in the rising sun, 
Show'd southern ravage was begun. ^ 

IV. 

Now loud the heedful gate-ward cried — 

" Prepare ye all for blows and blood ! 
Watt Tinlinn,^ from the Liddel-side, 

had their cave, that we wear ware of, whereof he first stopt up on; anoother he 
fill'd full of strawe, and set it a fyer, whereat they within cast water apace ; but 
it was so wel maynteyned without, that the fyer prevayled, and thei within fayn 
to get them belyke into anoother parler. Then devysed we (for I hapt to be 
with him) to stop the same up, w^hereby we should eyther smoother them, or 
fynd out their ventes, if thei hadde any moe : as this was done at another issue, 
about xii score of, we moughte see the fume of their smoke to come out : the 
which continued with so great a force and so long a while, that we could not 
but thinke they must needs get them out, or smoother within : and forasmuch 
as we found not that they dyd the tone, we thought it for certain thei wear sure 
of the toother." — PATTEN'S Account of So?nersefs Expedition itito Scotland, 
apud DaLYELL'S Fragynents. 

1 See Appendix, Note Y. 

2 This person was, in my younger days, the theme of many a fireside tale. 
He was a retainer of the Buccleuch family, and held for his Border service a 
small tower on the frontiers of Liddesdale. Watt was, by profession, a sutor, 
but, by inclination and practice, an archer and warrior. Upon one occasion, 
the captain of Bowcastle, military governor of that wild district of Cumberland, 
is said to have made an incursion into Scotland, in which he was defeated, and 
forced to fly. Watt Tinlinn pursued him closely through a dangerous morass ; 
the captain, however, gained the firm ground; and seeing Tinlinn dismounted, 
and floundering in the bog, used these words of insult : — " Sutor Watt, ye can- 
not sew your boots ; the heels risp, and the seems rive!'* — " If I cannot sew," 
retorted Tinlinn, discharging a shaft, which nailed the captain's thigh to his 
saddle, — " If I cannot sew, I can j^r/^/'f 

* Risp, creak. — Rive,, tear, 

t Yerk^ to twitch, as shoemakers do, in securing the stitches of their work. 



93 



CANTO IV.] THE LAST MINSTREL. 

Comes wading through the flood. ^ 
Full oft the Tynedale snatchers knock 

At his lone gate, and prove the lock ; 
It was but last St. Barnabright 
They sieged him a whole summer night, 
But fled at morning ; well they knew, 
In vain he never twang'd the yew. 
Right sharp has been the evening shower, 
That drove him from his Liddel tower ; 
And, by my faith," the gate- ward said, 
" I think 'twill prove a Warden-Raid." 2 

V. 

While thus he spoke, the bold yeoman ^ 
Enter'd the echoing barbican. 



1 [" And when they cam to Branksome ha, 

They shouted a' baith loud and hie, 

Till up and spak him auld Buccleuch, 

Said — * Whae's this brings the fraye to me? * — 
* It's I, Jamie Telfer, o' the fair Dodhead, 
And a harried man I think I be,' " &c. 

— Border .'if ifisfri'lsy, vol. ii. p. 8] 

2 An inroad commanded by the Warden in person. 

8 [" The dawn displays the smoke of ravaged fields, and shepherds, with 
their flocks, flying before the storm. Tidings brought by a tenant of the family, 
not used to seek a shelter on light occasions of alarm, disclose the strength and 
object of the invaders. This man is a character of a lower and of a rougher 
cast than Deloraine. The portrait of the rude retainer is sketched with the 
same masterly hand. Here, again, Mr. Scott has trod in the footsteps of the 
old romancers, who confine not themselves to the display of a few personages 
who stalk over the stage on stately stilts, but usually reflect all the varieties of 
character that marked the era to which they belong. The interesting example 
of manners thus i:)reserved to us, is not the only advantage which results from 
this jicculiar structure of their plan. It is this, amongst other circumstances, 
which enables them to carry us along with them, imdor I know not what species 
of fascination, and to make us, as it were, credulous spectators of their most 
extravagant scenes. In this they seem to resemble the painter, who. in th.- •!»'- 



94 



CAXIOir. 



^kc ZBf BiHIiapt . 

^ iris all liiki_z ir^^L : 
and dak-fanMr'd, 
rletpnmd,^ 
:~ r tiic cj.uwd. 




CANTO IV.] THE LAST MINSTREL. 95 

VI. 

Thus to the Ladye did Tinlinn show 

The tidings of the Enghsh foe : — 

'• Belted Will Howard ^ is marching here, 

And hot Lord Dacre/-^ with many a spear, 

And all the German hackbut-men,^ 

Who have long lain at Askerten : 

They cross'd the Liddel at curfew hour. 

And burn'd my little lonely tower : 

The fiend receive their souls therefor ! 

It had not been burnt this year and more. 

Barn-yard and dwelling, blazing bright. 

Served to guide me on my flight ; 

But I was chased the live long night. 

Black John of Akeshaw, and Fergus Graeme, 

Fast upon my traces came. 

Until I turn'd at Priesthaugh Scrogg, 

And shot their horses in the bog, 

Slew Fergus with my lance outright — 

I had him long at high despite : 

He drove my cows last Fastern's night.'* 

vn. 

Now weary scouts from Liddesdale, 
Fast hurrying in, confirm'd the tale ; 
As far as they could judi^e by ken, 

Three hours would bring to Teviot's strand 
Three thousand armed Knghshmen — 
Meanwhile, full many a warlike band. 
From Teviot, Aill, and l^ttrick shade. 
Came in. llu-ir Chiefs tlcfcnce to aid. 

1 See Appendix, Note /. - See Appendix. Note \ 2. 

" Mui^keteers. Sci' AnjuMidix, Note H a. 



g6 ^-^^ ^-^^' OF [CANTOR'. 

There was saddling and mounting in haste, 
There was pricking o'er moor and lea ; 

He that was last at the tr^-sting-place 
Was but Hghtly held of his gay ladye.^ 

VIII. 

From fair St. Mar}-*s silver wave. 

From drear}' Gamescleugh's dusky height, 
His ready lances Thirlestane brave 

Array'd beneath a banner bright. 
The treasured fleur-de-luce he claims 
To wreathe his shield, since royal James, 
Encamp'd by Fala's mossy wave, 
The proud distinction grateful gave, 

For faith 'mid feudal jars ; 
AMiat time, save Thirlestane alone. 
Of Scotland's stubborn barons none 

Would march to southern wars ; 
And hence, in fair remembrance worn, 
Yon sheaf of spears his crest has borne ; 
Hence his high motto shines reveaFd — 
^' Ready, aye ready," for the field.- 

IX. 

An aged Knight, to danger steel'd. 

With many a moss-trooper, came on ; 
And azure in a golden field. 
The stars and crescent graced his shield, 

Without the bend of Murdieston.^ 
Wide lay his lands round Oakwood tower, 

1 [The four last lines of stanza \ii. are not in the first edition. — ED.] 

2 See Appendix, Note C 2. 

3 See Appendix, Note D 2. 



CANTO IV.] THE LAST MINSTREL. ^j 

And wide round haunted Casde-Ower ; 
High over Borthwick's mountain flood, 
His wood-embosom'd mansion stood ; 
In the dark glen, so deep below, 
The herds of plunder'd England low ; 
His bold retainers' daily food, 
And bought with danger, blows, and blood. 
Marauding chief ! his sole delight 
The moonlight raid, the morning fight ; 
Not even the Flower of Yarrow's charms, 
In youth, might tame his rage for arms ; 
And still, in age, he spurn'd at rest, 
And still his brows the helmet press'd, 
Albeit the blanched locks below 
Were white as Dinlay's spotless snow ; 
Five stately warriors drew the sword 

Before their father's band ; 
A braver knight than Harden's lord 

Ne'er belted on a brand. ^ 

Scotts of Eskdale, a stalwart band,^ 

Came trooping down the Todshawhill ; 
By the sword they won their land, 

1 [See, besides the note on this stanza, one in the Border Minstrelsy, vol. ii. 
p. lo, respecting Wat of Harden, the Author's ancestor. 

A satirical piece, entitled " The Town Eclogue," which made much noise in 
Edinburgh shortly after the appearance of the Minstrelsy, has these lines : — 

" A mcKlcni author spends a hundred leaves, 
To prove his ancestors notorious thieves." — Eu.] 

'■^ [Stanzas x. xi. xii., were not in the first edition.] 

3 In this, and the following stanza, some account is given of the mode in 
which the property in the valley of Esk was transferred fron) the Bcattisons. its 
ancient possessors, to the name of Scott. It is needless to repeat the circum- 
stances, which are given in the poem, literally as they luivc been preserved by 



gS THE LA}' OF [CAXTOiv. 

And bv the swora they nola i: s::ll. 
Hearken. Ladye, to the tale. 
How thy sires won fair Eskdi'e. — 
Earl Morton was lord oi that \ ailey fair, 
The Beattisons were his vassals there. 
The Earl was gende, and mild of mood. 
The vassals were warlike, and fierce, and rude ; 
High of heart, and haughty of word. 
Little they reck'd of a tame liege lord. 
The Earl into fair Eskdale came, 
Homage and seignor}- to claim : 
Of Gilbert the Galliard a heriot ^ he sought, 
Sa3-ing, *' Give thy best steed, as a vassal ought." 
— •* Dear to me is my bonny white steed. 
Oft has he help'd me at pinch of need ; 
Lord and Earl though thou be, I trow, 
I can rein Bucksfoot better than thou." — 
Word on word gave fuel to fire. 
Till so highly blazed the Beattison's ire, 
But that the earl the flight had ta'en, 
The vassals there their lord had slain. 
Sore he plied both whip and spur, 
As he urged his steed through Eskdale muir ;. 
And it fell down a weary -weight, 
Just on the threshold of Branksome gate. 



ti^didon. Lx)rd Max\ve-1, in the latter part of the sixteenth century, took upon 
himself the title of Earl of Morton. Hie descendants of Beattison of Wood- 
kerrick, who aided the Earl to escape from his disobedient vassals, continued 
to hold these lands x^ithin the memory of man. and were the only Beattisons 
who had property in the dale. The old people give locality to the story, 
by showing the Galliard's Haugh, the Place where Bucdeuch's men were con- 
cealed, &C. 

1 The feudal superior, in certain cases, was entitled to the best horse of the 
vassal, in name of Henot, or Herezeld. 



% 



CANTO IV.] THE LAST MINSTREL. 



99 



XI. 

The Earl was a wrathful man to see, 

Full fain avenged would he be. 

In haste to Branksome's Lord he spoke, 

Saying — '^Take these traitors to thy yoke ; 

For a cast of hawks, and a purse of gold. 

All Eskdale I'll sell thee, to have and hold : 

Beshrew thy heart, of the Beattisons' clan 

If thou leavest on Eske a landed man ; 

But spare Woodkerrick's lands alone, 

For he lent me his horse to escape upon." 

A glad man then was Branksome bold, 

Down he flung him the purse of gold ; 

To Eskdale soon he spurr'd amain, 

And with him five hundred riders has ta'en. 

He left his merrymen in the mist of the hill, 

And bade them hold them close and still ; 

And alone he wended to the plain, 

To meet with the Galliard and all his train. 

To Gilbert the Galliard thus he said : — 

" Know thou me for thy liege-lord and head ; 

Deal not with me as with Morton tame, 

For Scotts play best at the roughest game. 

Give me in peace my hcriot due, 

Thy bonny white steed, or thou shalt rue. 

If my horn I three times wind, 

Eskdale shall loniJ have the sound in mind." — 



Xll. 

Loudly the Ik'attison lauL;h'(l in scorn; 
"Little care we for thy winded horn. 
Ne'er shall it be the ( milliard's lot. 
To yield his steed to a hau-hly Scott. 



lOO THE LAY OF [canto iv. 



Wend thou to Branksome back on foot, j 

With rusty spur and miry boot." — | 

He blew his bugle so loud and hoarse, 

That the dun deer started at fair Craikcross ; | 

He blew again so loud and clear, ' 

Through the gray mountain-mist there did lances appear ; 

And the third blast rang with such a din. 

That the echoes answer'd from Pentoun-linn, 

And all his riders came lightly in. 

Then had you seen a gallant shock, 

When saddles were emptied, and lances broke ! 

For each scornful word the Galliard had said, 

A Beattison on the field was laid. 

His own good sword the chieftain drew, 

And he bore the Galliard through and through ; 

Where the Beattisons' blood mix'd with the rill. 

The Galliard's Haugh men call it still. 

The Scotts have scatter'd the Beattison clan. 

In Eskdale they left but one landed man. 

The valley of Eske, from the mouth to the source, 

Was lost and won for that bonny white horse. 

xni 

Whitslade the Hawk, and Headshaw came. 
And warriors more than I may name ; 
From Yarrow-cleuch to Hindhaugh-swair,^ 

From Woodhouselie to Chester-glen, 
Troop'd man and horse, and bow and spear ; 

Their gathering word was Bellenden.'^ 

1 [This and the three following lines are not in the first edition. — Ed.] 
- Bellenden is situated near the head of Borthwick water, and being in the 
centre of the possessions of the Scotts, was frequently used as their rendezvous 
and gathering word. — Survey of Selkirkshire y i?i Macfar lanes MSS., Advo- 
cates' Library. Hence Satchells calls one part of his genealogical account of 
the families of that clan, his Bellenden. 



CANTO IV.] THE LAST MINSTREL, jqi 

And better hearts o'er Border sod 
To siege or rescue never rode. 

The Ladye mark'd the aids come in, 

And high her heart of pride arose : 
She bade her youthful son attend, 
That he might know his father's friend. 

And learn to face his foes. 
"The boy is ripe to look on war ; 

I saw him draw a cross-bow stiff. 
And his true arrow struck afar 
The raven's nest upon the cliff; 
The red cross, on a southern breast. 
Is broader than the raven's nest : 
Thou, Whitslade, shalt teach him his weapon to wield, 
And o'er him hold his father's shield." — 

XIV. 

Well may you think, the wily page 
Cared not to face the Ladye sage. 
He counterfeited childish fear. 
And shriek'd, and shed full many a tear. 

And moan'd and plain'd in manner wild. 
The attendants to the Ladye told, 

Some fairy, sure, had changed the child. 
That wont to be so free and bold. 
Then wrathful was the noble dame ; 
She blush' d blood-red for very shame : — 
"' Hence ! ere the clan his faintness view; 
Hence with the weakling to lUicclcuch ! — 
Watt 'i'inlinn, thou shall be his guide 
'I'o Ranglcburn's lonely side. — 
Sure some fell fiend has cursed our line, 
That coward should e'er be son of mine ! " — 




I02 'THE LAY OF [canto iv. 

XV. 

A heavy task Watt Tinlinn had, 
To guide the counterfeited lad. 
Soon as the palfrey felt the weight 
Of that ill-omen 'd elfish freight. 
He bolted, sprung, and rear'd amain, 
Nor heeded bit, nor curb, nor rein. 

It cost Watt Tinlinn mickle toil 

To drive him but a Scottish mile ; 
But as a shallow brook they cross 'd, 

The elf, amid the running stream, 

His figure changed, like form in dream, 

And fled, and shouted, '' Lost ! lost ! lost \ '* 
Full fast the urchin ran and laugh'd. 
But faster still a cloth-yard shaft 
Whistled from startled Tinhnn's yew, 
xA.nd pierced his shoulder through and through. 
Although the imp might not be slain. 
And though the wound soon heal'd again, 
Yet, as he ran, he yell'd for pain ; 
And Watt of Tinlinn, much aghast. 
Rode back to Branksome fiery fast. 

XVI. 

Soon on the hill's steep verge he stood. 
That looks o'er Branksome's towers and wood ; 
And martial murmurs from below, 
Proclaim'd the approaching southern foe. 
Through the dark wood, in mingled tone, 
Were Border pipes and bugles blown ; 

The coursers' neighing he could ken, 
A measured tread of marching men ; 



CANTO IV.] THE LAST MINSTREL. iq- 

While broke at times the solemn hum, 
The Almayn's sullen kettle drum ; 
And banners tall, of crimson sheen, 

Above the copse appear ; 
And, glistening through the hawthorns green. 
Shine helm, and shield, and spear. 

XVII. 
Light forayers, first, to view the ground, 
Spurr'd their fleet coursers loosely round ; 

Behind, in close array, and fast, 
The Kendal archers, all in green, 

Obedient to the bugle blast, 

Advancing from the wood were seen. 
To back and guard the archer band. 
Lord Dacre's bill-men were at hand : 
A hardy race, on Irthing bred. 
With kirtles white, and crosses red, 
Array'd beneath the banner tall, 
That streamed o'er Acre's conquer 'd wall ; 
And minstrels, as they march'd in order, 
Play'd, ''Noble Lord Dacre, he dwells on the Border.'* 

XVIII. 
Behind the English bill and bow, 
The mercenaries, firm and slow, 

Moved on to fight, in dark array, 
T)y ('onrad led of Wolfcnstein, 
\Vh() brought the band from distant Rhine, 

And sold tlieir blood for foreign i)a\'. 
The (\unp their home, their law the sword, 
They knew no c:ountr)', own'd no lortl : ' 

I 'I'ho int^rccnary ;ulvcnturrrs, wlioiii, in 1380, tlic Earl i)f Cambritlgc carried 
to tho assistanct; of tlic Kini; of rortiip^al against tbc Sjniniartls. nuitinii'd for 
want of regular pay. At an assembly of their loaders. Sir John Soltier, a nalu- 



104 



THE LAY OF 



[CANTO IV. 



They were not armed like England's sons, 

But bore the levin-darting guns ; 

Buff coats, all frounced and 'broider'd o'er, 

And morsing-horns ^ and scarfs they wore. 

Each better knee was bared, to aid 

The warriors in the escalade ; 

All, as they march'd, in rugged tongue. 

Songs of Teutonic feuds they sung. 

XIX. 

But louder still the clamor grew, 
And louder still the minstrels blew, 
When, from beneath the greenwood tree, 
Rode forth Lord Howard's chivalry ; 
His men-at-arms, w4th glaive and spear, 
Brought up the battle's gUttering rear. 
There many a youthful knight, full keen 
To gain his spurs, in arms was seen ; 
With favor in his crest, or glove. 
Memorial of his ladye-love. 
So rode they forth in fair array, 
Till full their lengthen'd lines display : 



ral son of Edward the Black Prince, thus addressed them : — " ' I counsayle, let 
us be alle of one alliance, and of one accorde, and let us among ourselves 
reyse up the baner of St. George, and let us be frendes to God, and enemyes 
to alle the worlde ; for without we make ourselfe to be feared, we gette noth- 
ynge.' 

" ' By my fayth,' quod Sir William Helmon, ' ye saye right well, and so let us 
do.' They all agreed with one voyce, and so regarded among them who shulde 
be their capitayne. Then they advysed in the case how they coude nat have a 
better capitayne than Sir John Soltier. For they sulde than have good leyser 
to do yvel, and they thought he was more metelyer thereto than any other. 
Then they raised up the penon of St. George, and cried, 'A Soltier! a Soltier! 
the valyaunt bastarde ! frendes to God, and enemies to all the worlde! '" — 
Froissart, vol. i. ch. 393. 

1 Powder-flasks. 



CANTO IV.] THE LAST MINSTREL. lO^ 



Then call'd a halt, and made a stand, 

And cried, '^ St. George, for merry England ! " * 

XX. 

Now every English eye, intent, 
On Branksome's armed towers was bent ; 
So near they were, that they might know 
The straining harsh of each cross-bow ; 
On battlement and bartizan 
Gleam'd axe, and spear, and partisan ; 
Falcon and culver,^ on each tower, 
Stood prompt their deadly hail to shower ; 
And flashing armor frequent broke 
From eddying whirls of sable smoke, 
Where upon tower and turret head. 
The seething pitch and molten lead 
Reek'd, like a witch's cauldron red. 
While yet they gaze, the bridges fall. 
The wicket opes, and from the wall 
Rides forth the hoary Seneschal. 

XXI. 

Armed he rode, all save the head, 

His white beard o'er his breast-plate spread ; 

Unbroke by age, erect his seat, 

He ruled his eager courser's gait ; 

Forced him, with chasten'd fire, to i)rance, 

And, high curvetting, slow advanc:c : 

In sign of truce, his better hand 

^ [" The stanzas, describing the march of the Englisli forceps, and the inves- 
titure of the Castle of Branxholni. cUsplay a great knowli'dije of ancient cos- 
tume, as well as a most i)ictiiicsc]uc and lively picture of feudal \v.\rtarc." — 
Critical Kevlt'lv^^ 

- Ancient pieces ut artillery. 



lo6 THE LAY OF [canto iv. 

Display'd a peeled willow wand ; 
His squire, attending in the rear, 
Bore high a gauntlet on a spear. ^ 
When they espied him riding out. 
Lord Howard and Lord Dacre stout 
Sped to the front of their array, 
To hear what this old knight should say. 

XXIL 

'^ Ye English warden lords, of you. 

Demands the Ladye of Buccleuch, 

Why, 'gainst the truce of Border tide, 

In hostile guise ye dare to ride, 

With Kendal bow, and Gilsland brand, 

And all yon mercenary band, 

Upon the bounds of fair Scotland ? 

My Ladye reads you swith return ; 

And, if but one poor straw you burn, 

Or do our towers so much molest. 

As scare one swallow from her nest, 

St. Mary ! but we'll light a brand 

Shall warm your hearths in Cumberland." — 

XXHL 

A wrathful man was Dacre 's lord. 
But calmer Howard took the word : 
^' May't please thy Dame, Sir Seneschal, 
To seek the castle's outward wall. 
Our pursuivant- at-arms shall show 

1 A glove upon a ]ance was the emblem of faith among the ancient Border- 
ers, who were wont, when any one broke his word, to expose this emblem, and 
proclaim him a faithless villain at the first Border meeting. This ceremony 
was much dreaded. See LESLEY. 




' In siuni of truce liis Ix-ttrr liainl 
l)i>I)!:iy'(l i» |)('clf(' w illow-waiul." 

Canto iv. lM . 



CANTO IV.] THE LAST MINSTREL. 107 

Both why we came, and when we go." — 
The message sped, the noble Dame 
To the wall's outward circle came ; 
Each chief around lean'd on his spear, 
To see the pursuivant appear. 
All in Lord Howard's livery dress'd. 
The lion argent deck'd his breast ; 
He led a boy of blooming hue 
O sight to meet a mother's view ! 
It was the heir of great Buccleuch. 
Obeisance meet the herald made, 
And thus his master's will he said. 

XXIV. 

" It irks, high Dame, my noble Lords, 
'Gainst ladye fair to draw their swords ; 
But yet they may not tamely see, 
All through the Western Wardenry, 
Your law-contemning kinsmen ride. 
And burn and spoil the Border- side ; 
And ill beseems your rank and birth 
To make your towers a flemens-firth.^ 
We claim from thee William of Dcloraine, 
That he may suffer march-treason'- paiu. 

1 An asylum for outlaws. 

2 Several species of offences, peculiar to the Border, constituted what was 
called march-treason. Among others, was the crime of riding, or causing to 
ride, against the opposite country during the time of truce. Thus, in an inden- 
ture made at the water of Eske, beside Salom, on the 25th day of Marcli. 1334, 
betwixt noble lords and mighty. Sirs Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland, 
and Archibald Douglas, Lord of Galloway, a truce is agreed upon until the ist 
day of July ; and it is expressly accorded, " (jif ony stellis authir on the ta part, 
or on the tothyr, that he shall be hanget or heofdit ; and gif ony company stellis 
any gudes within the trieux beforesayd, anc of thai company sal! be hanget or 
heofdit, and the remanant sail restore the gudys stolen in the dubble." — //w/o/y 
of Westmoreland and Cumberland, Introd., p. \x\ix. 



io8 



THE LAY OF 



[canto rv'. 



It was but last St. Cuthbert's even 
He prick'd to Stapleton on Leven, 
Harried ^ the lands of Richard Musgrave, 
And slew his brother by dint of glaive. 
Then, since a lone and widow'd Dame 
These restless riders may not tame, 
Either receive within thy towers 
Two hundred of my master's powers, 
Or straight they sound their warrison,^ 
And storm and spoil thy garrison : 
And this fair boy to London led, 
Shall good King Edward's page be bred." 

He ceased — and loud the boy did cry, 
And stretched his little arms on high ; 
Implored for aid each well-known face, 
And strove to seek the dame's embrace. 
x\ moment changed that Ladye's cheer, 
Gush'd to her eye the unbidden tear ; 
She gazed upon the leaders round, 
And dark and sad each warrior frown'd ] 
Then, deep withm her sobbing breast 
She lock'd the struggling sigh to rest ; 
Unalter'd and collected stood, 
And thus replied, in dauntless mood : — 

XXAT. 

•• Say to your Lord of high emprize,-^ 
Who war on women and on bovs. 



1 Plundered. 

2 Note of assault. 

3 \Orig. "Say to thy Lords of high emprize."] 



CANTO IV.] THE LAST MINSTREL. 



109 



That either WilHam of Deloraine 

Will cleanse him, by oath, of march-treason stain, ^ 

Or else he will the combat take 

'Gainst Musgrave, for his honor's sake. 

No knight in Cumberland so good, 

But WilHam may count with him kin and blood. 

Knighthood he took of Douglas' sword,'^ 

When Enghsh blood swell'd Ancram's ford,^ 

And but Lord Dacre's steed was wight, 

And bare him ably in the flight. 

Himself had seen him dubb'd a knight. 

For the young heir of Branksome's line, 

God be his aid, and God be mine ; 

Through me no friend shall meet his doom ; 

Here, while I live, no foe finds room. 

Then, if thy Lords their purpose urge, 
Take our defiance loud and high ; 

Our slogan is their lyke-wake^ dirge, 

Our moat, the grave where they shall lie.'' 

XXVH. 

Proud she look'd round, a[)p]ause to claim — 
Then lighten'd Thirlstane's eye of flame ; 

1 In dubious cases, the innocence of Border criminals was occasionally 
referred to their own oath. The form of excusing bills, or indictments, by 
Border-oath, ran thus : — " You shall swear by heaven above you, hell beneath 
you, by your part of Paradise, by all that Ciod made in six days and seven 
nights, and by God himself, you are whart out sackless of art, part, way, witting, 
ridd, kenning, having, or recetting of any of the goods and cattcls named in 
this bill. So help you God." — History of Cumbt'rland, Introil., p. \xv. 

2 See Appendix, Note E 2. 

3 The battle of Ancram Moor, or Penielheucli, was fought A.l>.. 1545. The 
English, commanded by Sir Ralph Evers, and Sir Brian Latoun. were totally 
routed, and both their leaders slain in the action. The Scottish army was 
commanded by Archibald Douglas, Earl of Angus, assisted by the I^iird ^^i 
BuccltMigh and Norman Lesley. 

'* I,yke-waki\ the watching a corpse previous to intcriucnt. 



I lo THE LAY OF [canto iv. 

His bugle Wat of Harden blew ; 
Pensils and pennons wide were flung, 
To heaven the Border slogan rung, 

" St. Mary for the young Buccleuch ! " 
The English war-cry answer'd wide, 

And forward bent each southern spear ; 
Each Kendal archer made a stride, 

And drew the bowstring to his ear ; 
Each minstrel's war-note loud was blown ; — 
But, ere a gray-goose shaft had flown, 

A horseman gallop 'd from the rear. 

XXVIH. 

"Ah ! noble Lords !" he breathless said, 

" What treason has your march betray'd ? 

What make you here, from aid so far, 

Before you walls, around you war ? 

Your foemen triumph in the thought, 

That in the toils the lion's caught. 

Already on dark Ruberslaw 

The Douglas holds his weapon-schaw ; i 

The lances, waving in his train, 

Clothe the dun heath like autumn grain ; 

And on the Liddel's northern strand. 

To bar retreat to Cumberland, 

Lord Maxwell ranks his merry-men good. 

Beneath the eagle and the rood ; 

And Jedwood, Eske, and Teviotdale, 
Have to proud Angus come ; 

And all the Merse and Lauderdale 
Have risen with haughty Home. 

An exile from Northumberland, 

1 Weapon-Schaw, the military array of a county. 



CANTO IV.] THE LAST MINSTREL. , , j 



In Liddesdale I've wander'd long ; 
But still my heart was with merry England, 

And cannot brook my country's wrong ; 
And hard I've spurr'd all night, to show 
The mustering of the coming foe." — 

XXIX. 

" And let them come ! " fierce Dacre cried ; 
''' For soon yon crest, my father's pride, 
That swept the shores of Judah's sea, 
And waved in gales of Galilee, 
B>om Branksome's highest towers display 'd, 
Shall mock the rescue's lingering aid ! — 
Level each harquebuss on row ; 
Draw, merry archers, draw the bow ; 
Up, bill-men, to the walls, and cry, 
Dacre for England, win or die !" — 

XXX. 

^^ Yet hear," quoth Howard, "' calmly hear, 
Nor deem my words the words of fear : 
For who, in field or foray slack, 
Saw the blanche lion e'er fall back?' 

1 This was the cognizance of tlie noble liouse of Howard in a!I its branches. 
The crest, or bearing, of a warrior, was often used as a tiomme dt\^uerrf. Thus 
Richard III. acquired liis well-known epithet, The Boar of York. In the vio- 
lent satire on Cardinal Wolsey, written by Roy, commonly, but erroneously, 
imputed to Dr. Hull, the Duke of Buckingham is called the lieautiful SidW, 
and the Duke of Norfolk, or Earl of Surrey, the U'AiU Lion. As tiie book is 
extremely rare, and the whole passage relates to the emblematical interpreta- 
tion of heraldry, it shall be here given at length. 

" /'//<• Di'scriptioti of the Arnics. 
•* Of the proiiil Cardinal this is the shcKIc, 
Borne u)) betwcene two anj^els t>f Salh.u» : 
The six Moiidy axes in a hare feKlo, 
• Sheweth tin- c ruclle of the reil n>au, 



IIj THE LAY OF [canto iv. 

But thus to risk our Border flower 

In strife against a kingdom's power, 

Ten thousand Scots 'gainst thousands three, 

Certes, were desperate pohcy. 

Nay, take the terms the Lad\'e made. 

Ere conscious of the advancing aid : 

Let Musgrave meet fierce Deloraine ^ 

In single fight, and, if he gain, i 

He gains for us ; but if he's cross 'd, ! 

HTis but a single warrior lost : ^ 

The rest, retreating as the\^ came. 

Avoid defeat, and death, and shame." 

XXXI. 

Dl could the haughty Dacre brook 
His brother Warden's sage rebuke ; 
And yet his forw'ard step he staid. 
And slow and sullenly obey'd. 

Which hadi devoured the Beandibl Swan, 

Mortal enenq^ unto tdie Whyte licm. 

Carter of Yoike, the yyle batcher''s scMuie. 

The six bulks heddes in a fidkle blacky 

Betokenetfa Ins stoidy fbiiousne^ 

Wheiefc»e, the godly lyght to put abacke. 

He biyugelh ia his d^vlish daicness; 

The bandog in the middes doth expresse 

The mastiff curie bied in Ypswich towne, 

Gnawynge with his tddi a kinges ciowne. 

The donbbe s^nifieth {dayne his tiranny , 

Covered over with a Cardinal's hatt. 

Wherein shafl be fulfilled the prophecy, 

Aryse up, Jacke, and put on dry salatt. 

For the tyme is oome c^bagge and walatt. 

The temporal! dievaliy thus thrown donne, 

Wheieibr, prest, take hede, and beware diy crowne." 

There were two copies of this very scarce satire in the library of the late 
John, Duke of Roxbuighe. See an account of it also in Sir Egerton Biydges' 
curious miscellany, the Cauura Uteraria, 

1 See Appendix, Note F 2. 



CANTO IV.] THE LAST MINSTREL. I i^ 

But ne'er again the border side 
Did these two lords in friendship ride ; 
And this shght discontent, men say, 
Cost blood upon another day. 

XXXII. 

The pursuivant-at-arms again 

Before the castle took his stand ; 
His trumpet call'd, with parleying strain, 

The leaders of the Scottish band ; 
And he defied, in Musgrave's right, 
Stout Deloraine to single fight ; 
A gauntlet at their feet he laid, 
And thus the terms of fight he said : — 
'^If in the lists good Musgrave's sword 

Vanquish the Knight of Deloraine, 
Your youthful chieftain, Branksome's Lord, 

Shall hostage for his clan remain : 
If Deloraine foil good Musgrave, 
The boy his lil)crty shall have. 

Howe'er it kills, the English band, 
Un harming Scots, by Scots unharm'd, 
In peaceful marcli, like men unarnrd. 

Shall straight retreat to Cumberland." 

XXXIII. 

Unconscious of the nrar nlief. 

The proffer pleased each Scottish chief. 

Though much the Ladye sage gainsay 'd ; 
For though their hearts were brave and true, 
Vx()\\\ Jedwood's recent sack llicN' knew. 

How tardy was the Regent's aid : 
And you may guess the noble I )ame 



114 THE LAY OF [canto iv. 

Durst not the secret prescience own, 
Sprung from the art she might not name, 

By which the coming help was known. 
Closed was the coaipact, and agreed 
That lists should be enclosed with speed, 
r Beneath the castle, on a lawn : 
They fix'd the morrow for the strife, 
On foot, with Scottish axe and knife. 

At the fourth hour from peep of dawn ; 
When Deloraine, from sickness freed, 
Or else a champion in his stead. 
Should for himself and chieftain stand. 
Against stout !Musgrave, hand to hand. 

XXXIV. 

I know right well, that, in their lay. 
Full many minstrels sing and say. 

Such combat should be made on horse. 
On foaming steed, in full career, 
With brand to aid, when as the spear 

Should shiver in the course : 
But he, the jovial Harper. ^ taught 
j\Ie, yet a youth, how it was fought, 

In guise which now I say : 
He knew each ordinance and clause 
Of Black Lord Archibald's battle-laws,^ 

1 See Appendix, Note G 2. 

2 The title to the most ancient collection of Border regulations runs thus : 
— "Be it remembered, that, on the i8th day of December, 1468, Earl \Vil~ 
lia??i Douglas assembled the whole lords, freeholders, and eldest Borderers, 
that best knowledge had, at the college of Linclouden ; and there he caused 
these lords and Borderers bodily to be sworn, the Holy Gospel touched, 
that they, justly and truly, after their cunning, should decrete, decern, 
deliver, and put in order and writing, the statutes, ordinances, and uses 
of marche, that were ordained in Black Archibald of Douglas's days, and 
Archibald his son's davs, in time of warfare ; and thev came a^ain to him 



1 



CANTO IV.] THE LAST MINSTREL. uj 

In the old Douglas' day. 
He brook'd not, he, that scoffing tongue 
Should tax his minstrelsy with wrong. 

Or call his song untrue : 
For this, when they the goblet plied. 
And such rude taunt had chafed his pride, 

The Bard of Reull he slew. 
On Teviot's side, in fight they stood. 
And tuneful hands were stain'd with blood ; 
Where still the thorn's white branches wave, 
Memorial o'er his rival's grave. 

XXXV. 

Why should I tell the rigid doom. 
That dragg'd my master to his tomb ; 

How Ousenam's maidens tore their hair. 
Wept till their eyes were dead and dim, 
And wrung their hands for love of him. 

Who died at Jedwood Air ? 
He died ! — his scholars, one by one, 
To the cold silent grave are gone ; 
And I, alas ! survive alone. 
To muse o'er rivalries of yore. 
And grieve tliat I shall hear no more 
Tlie strains, with envy heard before ; 

advisedly with these statutes and ordinances, wliicli wore in time of warfiire 
before. The said Earl William, seeing the statutes in writing dccreetl and 
delivered by the said lords and Borderers, thought them right speedful and 
profitable to the Borders ; the which statutes, ordinances, and points of warfare, 
he took, and the whole lords and Borderers he caused bodily to bo sworn, thai 
they should maintain and suj)ply him at their goodly power, to do the law upon 
those that should break the statutes uncierwritten. Also, the said \L\x\ Wit- 
Ham, and lords, and eldest Borderers, made certain points to be treason in 
time of warf.mt to be used, which were no treason l)cfore his time, but to Ik* 
treason in his tiini- and in all time comiius" 



1 1 6 THE LAY OF THE LAST JLLXSTREL. [caxto iv.] 

For. with my minstrel brethren tied, 
My jealousy of song is dead. 



He paused : the listening dames again 
Applaud the hoar}' Minstrel's strain. 
With many a word of kindly cheer, — 
In pit}^ half, and half sincere, — 
Man'ell'd the Duchess how so wcil 
His legendary song could tell — 
Of ancient deeds, so long forgot ; 
Of feuds, whose memor}' was not ; 
Of forests, now laid waste and bare ; 
Of towers, which harbor now the hare ; 
Of manners, long since changed and gone ; 
Of chiefs, who under their gray stone 
So long had slept, that fickle Fame 
Had blotted from her rolls their name, 
And twined round some new minion's head 
The fading wreath for which they bled : 
In sooth, 'twas strange, this old man's verse 
Could call them from their marble hearse. 

The Harper smiled, well-pleased : for ne'er 
Was flattery lost on poet's ear : 
A simple race ! they waste their toil 
For the vain tribute of a smile ; 
E'en when in age their flame expires, 
Her dulcet breath can fan its fires : 
Their drooping fancy wakes at praise. 
And strives to trim the short-lived blaze. 

Smiled then, well-pleased, the Aged Man, 
And thus his tale continued ran. 



©atxto Wivt. 



I. 

Call it not vain : — they do not err, 
Who say, that when the Poet dies, 

Mute Nature mourns her worshipper, 
And celebrates his obsequies : 

Who say, tall cliff, and cavern lone, 

For the departed Bard make moan ; 

That mountains weep in crystal rill ; 

That flowers in tears of balm distil ; 

Through his loved groves that breezes sigh, 

And oaks, in deeper groan, reply ; 

And rivers teach their rushing wave 

To murmur dirges round his grave. 

II. 

Not that, in sooth, o'er mortal urn 
Those things inanimate can mourn ; 
But tliat the stream, the wood, the gale. 
Is vocal with the plaintive wail 
Of those, who, else forgotten long, 
Lived in the j)oct's faithful soug, 
And, with the poet's parting breath, 
Wliose memory feels a second death. 
The Maid's pale shade, wht) wails lu-r U)t, 
That love, true love, should be forgot, 
From rose and hawthorn shakes the tear 



1 1 8 THE LA Y OF [canto v. 

Upon the gentle Minstrel's bier : 

The phantom Knight, his glory fled. 

Mourns o'er the field he heap'd with dead ; 

Mounts the wild blast that sweeps amain, 

And shrieks along the battle plain : 

The Chief, whose antique crownlet long 

Still sparkled in the feudal song. 

Now, from the mountain's misty throne, 

Sees, in the thanedom once his own, 

His ashes undistinguish'd lie. 

His place, his power, his memor\^ die : 

His groans the lonely caverns fill, 

His tears of rage impel the rill : 

All mourn the Minstrel's harp unstrung. 

Their name unknown, their praise unsung. 

in. 

Scarcely the hot assault was staid, 

The terms of truce were scarcely made. 

When they could spy, from Branksome's towers, 

The advancing march of martial powers. 

Thick clouds of dust afar appeared, 

xAnd trampling steeds w^ere faintly heard ; 

Bright spears, 1 above the columns dun, 

Glanced momentary to the sun ; 

And feudal banners fair displayed 

The bands that moved to Branksome's aid. 

IV. 

Tails not to tell each hardy clan, 

From the fair Middle Marches came ; 

The Bloody Heart blazed in the van, 

* 

1 \Orig. " Spear-heads above the columns dun." — Ed.] 



CANTO v.] THE LAST MINSTREL. I ig 

Announcing Douglas, dreaded name ! ^ 
Vails not to tell what steeds did spurn,^ 
Where the Seven Spears of Wedderburne -^ 

Their men in battle-order set ; 
And Swinton laid the lance in rest, 
That tamed of yore the sparkling crest 

Of Clarence's Plantagenet."^ 
Nor list I say what hundreds more, 
From the rich Merse and Lammermore, 
And Tweed's fair borders, to the war, 
Beneath the crest of Old Dunbar, 

And Hepburn's mingled banners come, 
Down the steep mountain glittering far, 

And shouting still, '' A Home ! a Home ! " ^ 

1 The chief of this potent race of heroes, about the date of the poem, was 
Archibald Douglas, seventh Earl of Angus, a man of great courage and activ- 
ity. The Bloody Heart was the well-known cognizance of the house of Doug- 
las, assumed from the time of good Lord James, to whose care Robert Bruce 
committed his heart, to be carried to the Holy Land. 

2 [In the first edition we read, — 

" Vails not to tell what hundreds more 
From the rich Merse and Lammermore," &c. 

The lines on Wedderburne and Swinton were inserted in the second edition. 
— ED.] 

^ Sir David Home of Wedderburne, who was slain in the fatal battle of 
Flodden, left seven sons by his wife, Isabel, daughter of Hoppringle of Gala- 
shiels (now Pringle of Whitebank). They were called the Seven Spears of 
Wedderburne. 

4 At the battle of Beaugt§, in France, Thomas duke of C'larcnco, brother to 
Henry V., was unhorsed by Sir John Swinton of Swinton, who distinguished 
liim by a coronet set with precious stones, which he wore around liis helmet. 
The family of Swinton is one of the most ancient in Scotland, and produced 
many celebrated warriors * 

•'■> The Earls of Home, as descendants of tin- Dunbars, ancient luirls of 
March, carried a lion rampant, argent; but. as a dilTerence, changed the color 
of the shield from gules to vert, in allusion to Greenlaw, their ancient ixkscs- 

* [Sec tlic Batllc of Ilalidi.ii Hill. Sir W. Srott was dcscctulc.l fnun Sir John Swin- 
ton. -Ku.] 



1 20 ^^^ ^^y OF [CANTO V. 

V. 
Now squire and knight, from Branksome sent. 
On many a courteous message went ; 
To eveiT chief and lord they paid 
^'ir :.anks for prompt and powerful aid; 
.-. : i them, — how a truce was made. 

And how a day of fight was ta'en 

Twixt Musgrave and Stout Deloraine ; 
And how the Ladye pray'd them dear. 

That all would stay the fight to see. 

And deign, in lore and comtesy. 
To taste of Branksome cheer. 
Nor. while they bade to feast each Scot, 
AVere E :^ md's noble Lords forgot. 
H = t ^ TV Seneschal 

I : rremly terms to call 

T _:dlant foes to Branksome Hall. 

Ac : r T -1 3ward, than whom knight 
Was It: .ibb'd. more bold in fight; 
Nor, when from war and armor free. 
More famed for stately courtesy : 
But angry Dacre rather chose 
In his pavilion to repose. 

VI. 
Now, noble Dame, perchance you ask. 
How these two hostile armies met? 

sioii. The slogan, or war-crT, of Ais porarerfiil fsunilj, was, "A Home! A 
Home ! " It was ancientiT placed in an esciol above the cresL The helmet is 
armed with a lion's head erased gales, with a cap of state guks^ tomed np 
ermine. 

The Hepbnms. a powerfiil feumilj in East Lothian, were nsoally in dose alli- 
anoe with the Homes. The chief of this clan was Hepbaro, Lord c:' Hi >5 : a 
familf whicii tenninated in the too £unoiis Eail of BothwelL 



CANTO v.] THE LAST MINSTREL, 1 2 1 



Deeming it were no easy task 

To keep the truce which here was set ; 
Where martial spirits, all on fire, 
Breathed only blood and mortal ire. — 
By mutual inroads, mutual blows, 
By habit, and by nation, foes. 

They met on Teviot's strand ; 
They met and sate them mingled down. 
Without a threat, without a fi*own, 

As brothers meet in foreign land : 
The hands, the spear that lately grasp'd, 
Still in the mailed gauntlet clasp'd, 

Were interchanged in greeting dear ; 
Visors Were raised, and faces shown, 
And many a friend, to friend made known, 

Partook of social cheer. 
Some drove the jolly bowl about ; 

With dice and draughts some chased the day ; 
And some, with many a merry shout. 
In riot, revelry, and rout, 

Pursued the foot-ball play.^ 

VII. 

Yet, be it known, had bugles blown, 

Or sign of war been seen, 
Those bands, so fair together ranged, 

1 The foot-ball was anciently a very favorite sport all through Scotlanii, but 
especially upon the Borders. Sir John Carmicliael of Carinichael, Warden of 
the Middle Marches, was killed in 1600 by a band of the Armstrongs, returning 
from a foot-ball match. Sir Robert Carey, in his Memoirs, mentions a great 
meeting, appointed by the Scotch riders to be lield at Kelso for the purpose of 
playing at foot-ball, but which terminated in an incursion upon England. At 
present, the foot-ball is often jilayed by the inliabitants of adjacent parishes, or 
of the opposite banks of a stream. The victory is contesfed with the utmost . 
fury, and very serious accidents have sometimes taken place in the struggle. 



• 



122 THE LAY OF [CAXTO V. 

Those hands, so frankly interchanged, 

Had dyed with gore the green : 
The merry shout by Teviot-side 
Had sunk in war-cries wild and wide, 

And in the groan of death ; 
And whingers, 1 now in friendship bare, 
The social meal to part and share, 

Had found a bloody sheath. 
'Twixt truce and war, such sudden change 
Was not infrequent, nor held strange. 

In the old Border-day : ^ 

1 A sor of knife, or poniard. 

2 Notwithstanding the constant wars upon the Borders, and the occasional 
cruelties which marked the mutual inroads, the inhabitants on either side do 
not appear to have regarded each other with that violent and personal animos- 
it)', which might have been expected. On the contrary, like the outposts of 
hostile armies, they often carried on something resembling friendly intercourse, 
even in the middle of hostilities ; and it is evident, from various ordinances 
against trade and intermarriages, between English and Scottish Borderers, that 
the governments of both countries were jealous of their cherishing too intimate 
a connection. Froissart says of both nations, that, " Englyshmen on the one 
party, and Scottes on the other party, are good men of warre ; for when they 
meet, there is a harde fight without sparynge. There is no hoo \truce\ between 
them, as long as spears, swords, axes, or daggers, will endure, but lay on eche 
upon uther; and whan they be well beaten, and that the one party hath ob- 
tained the victory, they then glor}-fye so in theyre dedes of armies, and are so 
joyfull, that such as be taken they shall be ransomed, or that they go out of the 
felde ; so that shortly eche of them is so content with other, that, at their de- 
partynge, curtyslye they will say, God thank you." — Berners's Froissart, vol. 
ii. p. 153. The Border meetings of truce which, although places of merchan- 
dise and merriment, often witnessed the most bloody scenes, may serve to 
illustrate the description in the text. They are vividly portrayed in the old 
ballad of the Reidsquair. [See Minstrelsy, vol. ii. p. 15.] Both parties came 
armed to a meeting of the wardens, yet they intermixed fearlessly and peacea- 
bly with each other in mutual sports and familiar intercourse, until a casual 

fray arose : — 

** Then was their nought but bow and spear 
And every man pulled out a brand." 

In the 29th stanza of this canto, there is an attempt to express some of the 
mixed feelings, with which the Borderers on each side were led to regard their 
neighbors. 



CANTO v.] THE LAST MINSTREL, 1 2 : 



But yet on Branksome's towers and town, 
In peaceful merriment, sunk down 
The sun's declining ray. 

VIII. 

The blithsome signs of wassail gay 
Decay'd not with the dying day ; 
Soon through the latticed windows tall 
Of lofty Branksome's lordly hall, 
Divided square by shafts of stone, 
Huge flakes of ruddy lustre shone ; 
Nor less the gilded rafters rang 
With merry harp and beakers' clang : 

And frequent, on the darkening plain, 
Loud hollo, whoop, or whistle ran, 

As bands, their stragglers to regain. 

Give the shrill watchword of their clan : ^ 

1 Patten remarks, with bitter censure, the disorderly conduct of the English 
Borderers, who attended the Protector Somerset on his expedition against 
Scotland. "As we wear then a setling, and the tents a setting up, among all 
things els commendable in our hole journey, one thing seemed to me an intol- 
lerable disorder and abuse : that whereas always, both in all tounes of war, and 
in all campes of armies, quietness and stilnes, without nois, is, principally in the 
night, after the watch is set, observed, (I nede not reason why,) our northern 
prikers, the Borderers, notwithstandyng, with great enormitie, (as thought me,) 
and not unlike (to be playn) unto a masteries hounde howlying in a hie way 
when he hath lost him he waited upon, sum hoopynge, sum whistling, and 
most with crying, A Berwyke, a Berwyke ! A Fenwykc, a Fenwyke ! A Bulmer, 
a Bulmer ! or so ootherwise as thoyr captains names wear, never lin'de these 
troublous and dangerous noyses all the nyghte longe. Tliey said, tlioy did it 
to find their cajDtain and fellows; but if the souldiers of our oother countreys, 
and slieres had used the same maner, in that case we should have oft tymcs 
had the state of our campe more like the outrage of a dissolute huntyng. than 
the quiet of a well ordered annye. It is a feat of war, in mine opinion, tliat 
might well be left. I could reherse causes (but yf I take it, they are better un- 
spoken than uttered, unless the faut wear sure to be amended) that might shew 
thei move alweis more peral to our armie, but in their one nyght's so doyngc, 
than they shew good service (as some sry) in a hoole vyagc." — .-//W DaL- ^ 
ZELL's Ft ailments, p. 75. 



124 ^^^ ^^^ ^^ [CANTO V. 

And revellers, o'er their bowls, proclaim 
Douglas or Dacre's conquering name. 

IX. 

Less frequent heard, and fainter still. 

At length the various clamors died : 
And you might hear, from Branksome hill, 

No sound but Teviot's rushing tide ; 
Save when the changing sentinel 
The challenge of his watch could tell ; 
And save, where, through the dark profound. 
The clanging axe and hammer's sound 

Rung from the nether lawn ; 
For many a busy hand toil'd there. 
Strong pales to shape, and beams to square.^ 
The list's dread barriers to prepare 

Against the morrow's dawn. 

X. 

Margaret from hall did soon retreat. 

Despite the Dame's reproving eye ; 
Nor mark'd she, as she left her seat, 

Full many a stifled sigh ; 
For many a noble warrior strove 
To win the flower of Teviot's love, 

And many a bold ally. — 
With throbbing head and anxious heart, 
All in her lonely bov/er apart, 

In broken sleep she lay : 
By times, from silken couch she rose ; 
While yet the banner'd hosts repose, 

She view'd the dawning day : 

1 [This line is not in the first edition.] 



CANTO v.] THE LAST MINSTREL. 

Of all the hundreds sunk to rest, 
First woke the loveliest and the best. 

XL 

She gazed upon the inner court, 

Which in the tower's tall shadow lay ; 
Where coursers' clang, and stamp, and snort, 

Had rung the livelong yesterday ; 
Now still as death ; till stalking slow, — 

The jingling spurs announced his tread, — • 
A stately warrior passed below ; 

But when he raised his plumed head — 
Blessed Mary ! can it be ? 
Secure, as if in Ousenam bowers. 
He walks through Branksome's hostile towers. 

With fearless step and free. 
She dared not sign, she dared not speak — 
Oh ! if one page's slumbers break, 

His blood the price must })ay ! 
Not all the pearls Queen Mary wears, 
Not Margaret's yet more precious tears, 

Shall buy his life a day. 

xn. 

Yet was his hazard small ; for well 
You may bethink you of tlic sj)ell 

Of that sly urchin page ; 
This to his lord he did impart. 
And made him seem, b)' glanuMu- art, 

A knight from Hermitage. 
Unchallenged thus, the warder's ]H)st, 
The court, unchallenged, thus he cross'd, 

For all the vassalage : 
But () ! what magic's (jiiaint dismiise 



126 THE LAY OF [canto v. 

Could blind fair Margaret's azure eyes ! 

She started from her seat ; 
While with surprise and fear she strove, 
And both could scarcely master love — 

Lord Henry's at her feet. 

XIII. 

Oft have I mused, what purpose bad 
That foul malicious urchin had 

To bring this meeting round ; ;' 

For happy love's a heavenly sight, % 

And by a vile mahgnant sprite \ 

In such no joy is found ; ^ 

And oft I've deem'd, perchance he thought ' 

Their erring passion might have wrought 

Sorrow, and sin, and shame ; 
And death to Cranstoun's gallant Knight, 
And to the gentle ladye bright. 

Disgrace, and loss of fame. 
But earthly spirit could not tell 
The heart of them that loved so well. 
True love's the gift which God has given 
To man alone beneath the heaven :• 

It is not fantasy's hot fire. 

Whose wishes, soon as granted, fly ; 

It liveth not in fierce desire, 

AVith dead desire it doth not die ; 
It is the secret sympathy. 
The silver link,i the silken tie, 

1 [In the first edition, " the sih^er cordy — 

*' Yes, love, indeed, is light from heaven, 
A spark of that immortal fire 
With angels shared; by Alia given 
To lift from earth our low de-sire," &c-. 

— The Giaour.'] 



^ 



CANTO v.] THE LAST MINSTREL. 12/ 

Which heart to heart, and mind to mind, 
In body and in soul can bind. — 
Now leave we Margaret and her Knight, 
To tell you of the approaching fight. 

XIV. 

Their warning blasts the bugles blew. 

The pipe's shrill jDort^ aroused each clan ; 

In haste, the deadly strife to view, 
The trooping warriors eager ran : 

Thick round the lists their lances stood, 

Like blasted pines in Ettrick wood ; 

To Branksome many a look they threw, 

The combatants' approach to view, 

And bandied many a word of boast. 

About the knight each favor'd most. 

XV. 

Meantime full anxious was the Dame ; 
For now arose disputed claim. 
Of who should fight for Deloraine, 
'Twixt Harden and 'twixt Thirlestaine ;''^ 
They 'gan to reckon kin and rent, 
And frowning brow on brow was bent ; 

But yet not long the strife — for, lo ! 
Himself, tlie Knight of Deloraine, 
Strong, as it seem'd, and free from pain. 

In armor sheath'd from top to toe, 
Apj)car'(l, and craved the (X)mb:il ihie. 

^ A mnrtial piece of nuisic, .'Khijitod to the bai^pij-os. 

- [It may be noticed that tlie late Lord Napier, the representative of the 
Scotts of Thirlestane, was Lord Lieutenant of Selkirksliire (of which tlie author 
was Sheriff-depute) at the time when the poem was written; the competitor for 
till' lionor of sui')plyinLj Deloraine's place was tlie poel*s own ancestor. — Kl».] 



128 THE LAY OF [canto v. 

The Dame her charm successful knew/ 
And the fierce chiefs their claims withdrew. 

XVI. 
When for the lists they^ sought the plain, 
The stately Ladye's silken rein 

Did noble Howard hold ; 
Unarmed by her side he walk'd, 
And much, in courteous phrase, they talk'd 

Of feats of arms of old. 
Costly his garb — his Flemish ruff 
Fell o'er his doublet, shaped of buff, 

With satin slash'd and Hned ; 
Tawny his boot, and gold his spur. 
His cloak was all of Poland fur, 

His hose with silver twined ; 
His Bilboa blade, by Marchmen felt, 
Hung in a broad and studded belt ; 
Hence, in rude phrase, the Borderers still 
Caird noble Howard, Belted Will. 

XVH. 

Behind Lord Howard and the Dame, 
Fair Margaret on her palfrey came, 

Whose foot-cloth swept the ground : 
White was her wimple, and her veil. 
And her loose locks a chaplet pale 

Of whitest roses bound ; 
The lordly Angus, by her side. 
In courtesy to cheer her tried ; 
Without his aid, her hand in vain 
Had strove to guide her broider'd rein. 

1 See Canto 3, Stanza xxiii. 




' Jii'hind Lonl Ilow;ii(l aiul the Danu' 
Fair MarL^an;! on In-r palhry cainc" 

Canto v. 17. 



CANTO v.] THE LAST MINSTREL. 1 39 

He deem'd, she shudder'd at the sight 
Of warriors met for mortal fight ; 
But cause of terror, all unguess'd, 
Was fluttering in her gentle breast, 
When, in their chairs of crimson placed. 
The Dame and she the barriers graced. 

XVIII. 
Prize of the field, the young Buccleuch, 
An English knight led forth to view ; 
Scarce rued the boy his present plight, 
So much he long'd to see the fight. 
Within the lists, in knightly pride. 
High Home and haughty Dacre ride; 
Their leading staffs of steel they wield, 
As marshals of the mortal field ; 
While to each knight their care assign 'd 
Like vantage of the sun and wind.^ 
Then heralds hoarse did loud proclaim, 
In King and Queen, and Warden's name, 

That none, while lasts the strife. 
Should dare, by look, or sign, or word, 
Aid to a champion to afford, 

On peril of his life ) 
And not a breath the silence broke. 
Till thus the alternate Heralds spoke : — 

XIX. 

ENGI.ISII UKRALl). 

" Here standcth Richard of Musgravc, 

Good knight and true, and freely born, 
Amends from Deloraine to (Tave, 

1 [Tltis couplet was added in \\\v si-eond edition.] 



I30 THE LAY OF [canto v. 

For foul despiteous scathe and scorn. j 

He sayeth, that William of Deloraine J 

Is traitor false by Border laws ; 
This with his sword he will maintain, 

So help him God^ and his good cause ! " 

XX. 

SCOTTISH HERALD. 

"Here standeth William of Deloraine, 
Good knight and true, of noble strain, 
Who sayeth, that foul treason's stain. 

Since he bore arms, ne'er soiPd his coat ; 
And that, so help him God above ! 
He will on Musgrave's body prove, 
He Hes most foully in his throat." — 

LORD DACRE. 

'* Forward, brave champions, to the fight ! 
Sound trumpets ! " 

LORD HOME. 

"God defend the right !" — ^ 



Then, Teviot ! how thine echoes rang, 
When bugle-sound and trumpet- clang 

Let loose the martial foes. 
And in mid list, with shield poised high, 
And measured step and wary eye, 

The combatants did close. 

XXI. 

Ill would it suit your gentle ear, 
Ye lovely listeners, to hear 

[After this, in the first edition, we read only, 

'* At the last words, with deadly blows, 
The ready warriors fiercely close." — Ed.] 



CANTO v.] THE LAST MINSTREL. , . j 



How to the axe the helms did sound, 

And blood pour'd down from many a wound ; 

For desperate was the strife and long, 

And either warrior fierce and strong. 

But, were each dame a listening knight, 

I well could tell how warriors fight ! 

For I have seen war's lightning flashing, 

Seen the claymore with bayonet clashing, 

Seen through red blood the war-horse dashing, 

And scorn'd, amid the reeling strife. 

To yield a step for death or life. — 

XXII. 
'Tis done, *tis done ! that fatal blow ^ 
Has stretch'd him on the bloody plain ; 
He strives to rise — Brave Musgrave, no ! 
Thence never shalt thou rise again ! 
He chokes in blood — some friendly hand 
Undo the visor's barred band, 
Unfix the gorget's iron clasp. 
And give him room for life to gasp ! — 
O, bootless aid ! — haste, holy Friar,- 
Haste, ere the sinner shall expire ! 
Of all his guilt let him be shriven, 
And smooth his path from earth to heaven ! 

XXIII. 

In haste the holy Friar sped ; — 
His naked foot was dyed with red, 

1 [" The whole scene of the duel, or judiciiil combat, is conducted according 
to the strictest ordinances of chivalry, and delineated with all the minuteness of 
an ancient romancer. The modern reader will probably find it rather tedious; 
all but the concluding stanzas, which are in a loftier measure — * 'Tis done, 'tis 
done 1 ' &c." — Jkfkrky.] 

2 [First edition, " In vain — /// vain f haste, holy l-'riar."] 



132 THE LAY OF [canto v. 

As through the lists he ran ; 
Unmindful of the shouts on high, 
That hail'd the conqueror's victory, 

He raised the dying man ; 
Loose waved his silver beard and hair, 
As o'er him he kneel'd down in prayer ; 
And still the crucifix on high 
He holds before his darkening eye ; 
And still he bends an anxious ear, 
His faltering penitence to hear ; 

Still props him from the bloody sod, 
Still, even when soul and body part, 
Pours ghostly comfort on his heart, 

And bids him trust in God ! 
Unheard he prays ; — the death-pang's o'er ! ^ 
Richard of Musgrave breathes no more. 

XXIV. 

As if exhausted in the fight, 

Or musing o'er the piteous sight. 

The silent victor stands ; 
His beaver did he not unclasp, 
Mark'd not the shouts, felt not the grasp 

Of gratulating hands. 
When lo ! strange cries of wild surprise, 
Mingled with seeming terror, rise 

Among the Scottish bands ; 
And all, amid the throng' d array. 
In panic haste gave open way 
To a half-naked ghastly man. 
Who downward from the castle ran : 
He cross'd the barriers at a bound, 

1 [ Orig. — " Unheard he prays ; — 'tis o'er, 'tis o'er / "] 



II 



CANTO v.] THE LAST MINSTREL, 

And wild and haggard look'd around, 
As dizzy, and in pain ; 

And all, upon the armed ground. 
Knew William of Deloraine ! 
Each ladye sprung from seat with speed ; 
Vaulted each marshal from his steed ; 

" And who art thou," they cried, 
'' Who hast this battle fought and won ? " — 
His plumed helm was soon undone — 

'' Cranstoun of Teviot-side ! 
For this fair prize IVe fought and won," — 
And to the Ladye led her son. 

XXV. 

Full oft the rescued boy she kiss'd, 
And often press 'd him to her breast ; 
For, under all her dauntlass show. 
Her heart had throbb'd at every blow ; 
Yet not Lord Cranstoun deign'd she greet, 
Though low he kneeled at her feet. 
Me lists not tell what words were made. 
What Douglas, Home, and Howard, said - 

— For Howard was a generous foe — 
And how the clan united pray'd 

The Ladye would the feud forego. 
And deign to bless the nuptial hour 
Of Cranstoun's Lord and Tcviot's I'lowcr. 

XXVI. 

She look'd to river, look'd to hill, 
'I'hought on the Spirit's prophecy, 

Then broke her silence stern and still, — 
*^ Not you, but Fate, has vanijuish'tl nie ; 

Their influeiux* kindly stars may shower 



^11 



134 ^^^ ^^^ ^^^ [CANTO V. 

On Teviot's tide and Branksome's tower, 

For pride is quell'd, and love is free." — 
She took fair Margaret by the hand, 
Who, breathless, trembling, scarce might stand : 

That hand to Cranstoun's lord gave she : — 
'^ As I am true to thee and thine. 
Do thou be true to me and mine ! 

This clasp of love our bond shall be : 
For this is your betrothing day. 
And all these noble lords shall stay, 

To grace it with their company." — 

XXVII. 

All as they left the listed plain, 

Much of the story she did gain ; 

How Cranstoun fought with Deloraine, 

And of his page, and of the Book 

Which from the wounded knight he took; 

And how he sought her castle high. 

That morn, by help of gramarye ; 

How, in Sir William's armor dight, 

Stolen by his page, while slept the knight, 

He took on him the single fight. 

But half his tale he left unsaid. 

And linger'd till he join'd the maid. — 

Cared not the Ladye to betray 

Her mystic arts in view of day ; 

But well she thought, ere midnight came, 

Of that strange page the pride to tame, 

From his foul hands the Book to save, 

And send it back to Michael's grave. — 

Needs not to tell each tender word 

'Twixt Margaret and 'twixt Cranstoun's lord; 



CANTO v.] THE LAST MINSTREL. j^. 

Nor how she told of former woes, 

And how her bosom fell and rose, 

While he and Musgrave bandied blows. — 

Needs not these lovers' joys to tell : 

One day, fair maids, you'll know them well. 

XXVIII. 

WilHam of Deloraine, some chance 
Had waken'd from his deathlike trance ; 

And taught that, in the listed plain, 
Another, in his arms and shield, 
Against fierce Musgrave axe did wield. 

Under the name of Deloraine. 
Hence, to the field, unarm'd, he ran, 
And hence his presence scared the clan, 
Who held him for some fleeting wraith,^ 
And not a man of blood and breath. 

Not much this new ally he loved, 

Yet, when he saw what hap had proved. 
He greeted him right heartilie : 
He would not waken old debate. 
For he was void of rancorous hate, 

Though rude, and scant of courtesy ; 
In raids he spilt but seldom blood, 
Unless when men-at-arms withstood. 
Or, as was meet, for deadly feud. 
He ne'er bore grudge for stalwart blow, 
Ta'en in fair fight from gallant foe : 

And so 'twas seen of him, e'en now. 

When on dead Musgrave he look'd dowu ; 

Grief darken'd on his rugged brow. 
Though half disguised with a rn>wn ; 

1 The spectral apparition ot a liviii<; jicison. 



136 THE LAY OF [canto v. 

And thus, while sorrow bent his head, 
His foeman's epitaph he made. 

. XXIX. 

'^ Now, Richard Musgrave, hest thou here ! 

I ween, my deadly enemy ; 
For, if I slew thy brother dear. 

Thou slew'st a sister's son to me ; 
And when I lay in dungeon dark, 

Of Naworth Castle, long months three, 
Till ransom'd for a thousand mark, 

Dark Musgrave, it was long of thee. 
And, Musgrave, could our fight be tried. 

And thou wert now alive, as I, 
No mortal man should us divide. 

Till one, or both of us, did die : 
Yet rest thee God ! for well I know 
I ne'er shall find a nobler foe. 
In all the northern counties here. 
Whose word is Snafide, spur, and spear, ^ 
Thou wert the best to follow gear ! 
'Twas pleasure, as we look'd behind, 
To see how thou the chase could'st wind. 
Cheer the dark blood-hound on his way, 
And with the bugle rouse the fray ! ^ 

1 " The lands, that over Ouse to Berwick forth do bear, 

Have for their blazon had, the snaffle, spur, and spear/' 

— Poly-Aldi'on, Song 13. 

2 The pursuit of Border marauders was followed by the injured party and 
his friends with blood-hounds and bugle-horn, and was called the hot-trod. He 
was entitled, if his dog could trace the scent, to follow the invaders into the 
opposite kingdom; a privilege which often occasioned bloodshed. In addi- 
tion to what has been said of the blood-hound, I may add, that the breed was 
kept up by the Buccleuch family on their Border estates till within the i8th cen- 
tury. A person was alive in the memory of man, who remembered a blood- 



CANTO v.] THE LAST MINSTREL. 137 

rd give the lands of Deloraine, 
Dark Musgrave were alive again." — ^ 

XXX. 

So mourn'd he, till Lord Dacre's band 
Were bowning back to Cumberland. 
They raised brave Musgrave from the field, 
And laid him on his bloody shield ; 
On leveird lances, four and four, 
By turns, the noble burden bore. 
Before, at times, upon the gale. 
Was heard the Minstrel's plaintive wail ; 
Behind, four priests, in sable stole. 
Sung requiem for the warrior's soul : 
Around, the horsemen slowly rode ; 
With trailing pikes the spearmen trode ; 
And thus the gallant knight they bore, 

hound being kept at Eldinhope, in Ettrick Forest, for whose maintenance the 
tenant had an allowance of meal. At that time the sheep were always watched 
at night. Upon one occasion, when the duty had fallen on the narrator, then a 
lad, he became exhausted with fatigue, and fell asleep upon a bank, near sun- 
rising. Suddenly he was awakened by the tread of horses, and saw five men, 
well mounted and armed, ride briskly over the edge of the hill. They stopped 
and looked at the flock; but the day was too far broken to admit the chance of 
their carryicgi^ any of them off. One of them, in spite, leaped from his liorse, 
and coming to the shepherd, seized him by the belt he wore round his waist; 
and, setting his foot upon his body, pulled it till it broke, and carried it away 
with him. They rode off at the gallop; and the shepherd giving the alarm, 
the blood-hound was turned loose and the pco]-)le in the neighborhood alarmed. 
The marauders, however, escaped, notwithstanding a sharp pursuit. This cir- 
cumstance serves to show how very long the license of the Borderers continued 
in some degree to manifest itself. 

1 [The style of the old romancers has becMi vt-ry ^uoet*ssfully imitated in the 
whole of this scene; and the speech of Deloraine, wlio, roused from his bed 
of sickness, rushes into the lists, and apostrophizes his fallen enemy, brought 
to our recollection, as well from the peculiar turn of expression in its commence- 
ment as in the tone of sentiments which it conveys, some of \\\g funebrcs ora- 
tioncs of the Mort Arthur." — ('ritical l\t;vicw?\ 



138 THE LAY OF THE LAST MINSTREL. [canto v.] 

Through Liddesdale to Leven's shore ; 
Thence to Holme Coltrame's lofty nave, 
And laid him in his father's sfrave. 



The harp's wild notes, though hush'd the song, 

The mimic march of death prolong ; 

Now seems it far, and now a-near, 

Now meets, and now eludes the ear ; 

Now seems some mountain side to sweep, 

Now faintly dies in valley deep ; 

Seems now as if the MinstrePs wail, 

Now the sad requiem, loads the gale ; 

Last, o'er the warrior's closing grave. 

Rung the full choir in choral stave. 

After due pause, they bade him tell. 
Why he, who touch'd the harp so well. 
Should thus, with ill-rewarded toil. 
Wander a poor and thankless soil. 
When the more generous Southern Land 
Would well requite his skilful hand. 

The Aged Harper, howsoe'er 
His only friend, his harp, was dear. 
Liked not to hear it ranked so high 
Above his flowing poesy : 
Less liked he still, that scornful jeer 
Misprised the land he loved so dear ; 
High was the sound, as thus again 
The Bard resumed his minstrel strain. 



I 



^vcnto ^i^tlt^ 



Breathes there the man, with soul so dead, 
Who never to himself hath said, 

This is my own, my native land ! 
Whose heart hath ne'er within him burn'd, 
As home his footsteps he hath turn'd. 

From wandering on a foreign strand ! 
If such there breathe, go, mark him well; / ^^^ '^ 

For him no Minstrel raptures swell ; >^^^ 

High though his titles, proud his name, 
Boundless his wealth as wish can claim ; 
Despite those titles, power, and pelf. 
The wTetch, concentred all in self, 
Living, shall forfeit fair renown. 
And, doubly dying, shall go down 
To the vile dust, from whence he sprung, 
Unwept, unhonor'd, and unsung. 

II. 

O Caledonia ! stern and wild, 

Meet nurse for a poetic child ! 

Land of brown heath and shagg\' wood. 

Land of the mountain and the Hood, 

Land of my sires ! what mortal hand 

Can e'er untie the filial baud. 

That knits mc to thv rugged strand ! 



I40 THE LAY OF [canto vi. 

Still, as I view each well-known scene, 

Think what is now, and what hath been, 

Seems as, to me, of all bereft, 

Sole friends thy woods and streams were left ; 

And thus I love them better still. 

Even in extremity of ill. 

By Yarrow's streams still let me stray, 

Though none should guide my feeble way, 

Still feel the breeze down Ettrick break. 

Although it chill my wither'd cheek ; 

Still lay my head by Teviot Stone, ^ 

Though there, forgotten and alone, 

The Bard may draw his parting groan. 

III. 

Not scorn'd like me ! to Branksome Hall 
The Minstrels came, at festive call ; 
Trooping they came, from near and far. 
The jovial priests of mirth and war ; 
Alike for feast and fight prepared. 
Battle and banquet both they shared. 
Of late, before each martial clan, 
They blew their death-note in the van, 
But now, for every merry mate, 
Rose the portcullis' iron grate ; 
They sound the pipe, they strike the string. 
They dance, they revel, and they sing, 
Till the rude turrets shake and ring. 

IV. 

Me lists not at this tide declare 
The splendor of the spousal rite, 

1 [The line " Still lay 7uy heady &c., was not in the first edition. — ED.] 



CANTO VI.] THE LAST MINSTREL. j^I 

How muster'd in the chapel fair, 

Both maid and matron, squire and knight. 
Me Hsts not tell of owches rare, 
Of mantles green, and braided hair, 
And kirtles furr'd with miniver ; 
What plumage waved the altar round, 
How spurs and ringing chainlets sound : 
And hard it were for bard to speak 
The changeful hue of Margaret's cheek ; 
That lovely hue which comes and flies, 
As awe and shame alternate rise ! 



Some bards have sung, the Ladye high 
Chapel or altar came not nigh ; 
Nor durst the rites of spousal grace. 
So much she fear'd each holy place. 
False slanders these : — I trust right well 
She wrought not by forbidden spell ; ^ 
For mighty words and signs have power 
O'er sprites in planetary hyur : 
Yet scarce I praise their venturous part, 
Who tamper with such dangerous art. 

But this for f^iithful truth I say. 
The Ladye by the altar stood, 

Of sable velvet her array, 

And on her head a crimson hood. 
With pearls embroider'd and entwined. 
Guarded with gold, with ermine lined ; 
A merlin sat upon her wrist,- 
Held by a leash of silken twist. 

1 [Sec Appendix, Note II 2.] 

- A merlin, or sparrow-hawk, was actually carried by ladies of rank, as a 

falcon was, in time of peace, tlie constant attendant of a knight or baron. See 



I 



1^2 ^^^ ^'^^' ^^ [CANTO VI. 



VI. 

The spousal rites were ended soon : 
'Twas now the merry hour of noon. 
And in the lofty arched hall 
Was spread the gorgeous festival. 
Steward and squire, with heedful haste, 
Marshaird the rank of ever)- guest : 
Pages, with ready blade, were there, 
The might)' meal to car\-e and share : 
O'er capon, heron-shew, and crane, 
And princely peacock's gilded train, ^ 
And o'er the boar-head, garnish'd brave,*^ 
And cygnet from St. Mary's wave : -^ 
O'er ptarmigan and venison, 

Latham on Falconry. — Godscroft relates, that when Mary of Lorraine was 
regent, she pressed the Earl of Angus to admit a royal garrison into his Castle 
of Tantallon. To this he returned no direct answer; but, as if apostrophizing 
a goss-hawk, which sat on his wrist, and which he was feeding during the 
Queen's speech, he exclaimed, " The devil's in this greedy g'ede, she will never 
be full." — Hume's History of the House of Douglas, 1743, vol. ii. p. 131. 
Barclay complains of the common and indecent practice of bringing hawks 
and hounds into churches. 

1 The peacock, it is well known, was considered, during the times of chivalry, 
not merely as an exquisite delicacy, but as a dish of peculiar solemnity. After 
being roasted, it was again decorated with its plumage, and a sponge, dipped in 
lighted spirits of wine, was placed in its bill. ' WTien it was introduced on days 
of grand festival, it was the signal for the adventurous knights to take upon 
them vows to do some deed of chivalr>', " before the peacock and the ladies." 

2 The boar's head was also a usual dish of feudal splendor. In Scotland it 
was sometimes surrounded with little banners, displaving the colors and achiev- 
ments of the baron at whose board it was sened. — Pinkerton'S History, 
vol. i. p. 432. 

3 There are often flights of wild swans upon SL Mary's Lake, at the head of 
the river Yarrow.* 

* [ See Wordsworth's YarrtrM visited, — 

" The Swan on still Sl Mary's Lake 
Floats double. Swan and shadow." — Ed.] 



CANTO VI.] THE LAST MINSTREL. 143 

The priest had spoke his benison. 
Then rose the riot and the din, 
Above, beneath, without, within ! 
For, from the lofty balcony, 
Rung trumpet, shalm, and psaltery : 
Their clanging bowls old warriors quaff d. 
Loudly they spoke, and loudly laugh 'd ; 
Whisper'd young knights, in tone more mild, 
To ladies fair, and ladies smiled. 
The hooded hawks, high perch'd on beam. 
The clamor join'd with whistUng scream, 
And flapp'd their wings, and shook their bells, 
In concert with the stag-hounds' yells. 
Round go the flasks of ruddy wine, 
From Bourdeaux, Orleans, or the Rhine ; 
Their tasks the busy sewers ply, 
V^ And all is mirth and revelry. 

VII. 

The Goblin Page, omitting still 

No opportunity of ill. 

Strove now, while blood ran hot and high, 

To rouse debate and jealousy ; 

Till Conrad, Lord of Wolfenstein, 

By nature fierce, and warm with wine. 

And now in humor highly cross'd, 

About some steeds his band had lost, 

High words to words succeeding still. 

Smote, with his gauntlet, stout Tlunthill ; ^ 

1 The Rutlicrfords of lluntliill were an anciiMit laee of Border Laiiiis, wlioso 
names occur in history, sometimes as defending the frontier against the Kni^lish, 
sometimes as disturbing the peace of their own country. Dickon Draw-ihe- 
sword was son to the ancient warrior, called in tradition the Cock of liunttiill, 
remarkable for leading: into battle nine sons, irallant warriors, all suns of the 



144 THE LAY OF [canto vi. 

A hot and hardy Rutherford, 

Whom men called Dickon Draw- the -sword. 

He took it on the page's save, 

Hunthill had driven these steeds away. 

Then Howard, Home, and Douglas rose, 

The kindling discord to compose : 

Stern Rutherford right httle said, 

But bit his glove,^ and shook his head. — 

A fortnight thence, m Ingle wood, 

Stout Conrade, cold, and drench'd m blood, 

His bosom gored with many a wound, 

Was by a woodman's lyme-dog found ; 

Unknown the manner of his death, 

Gone was his brand, both sword and sheath ; 

But ever from that time, 'twas said. 

That Dickon wore a Cologne blade. 

vni. 

The dwarf, w^ho fear'd his master's eye 
Might his foul treachery espie, 

aged champion. Mr. Rutherford, late of New York, in a letter to the editor, 
soon after these songs were first pubhshed, quoted, when upwards of eighty 
years old, a ballad, apparently the same with the Raid of the Reidsquare, but 
which apparently is lost, except the following lines : — 

*' Bauld Rutherfurd he was fu' stout, 
With all his nine sons him about. 
He brought the lads of Jedbrught out, 
And bauldly fought that day." 

1 To bite the thumb, or the glove, seems not to have been considered, upon 
the Border, as a gesture of contempt, though so used by Shakspeare, but as a 
pledge of raoital revenge. It is yet remembered, that a young gentleman of 
Teviotdale, on the morning after a hard drinking-bout, observed that he had 
bitten his giove. He instantly demanded of his companion, with whom he had 
quarrelled, and learning that he had had words with one of the party, in- 
sisted on instant satisfaction, asserting, that though he remembered nothing of 
the dispute, yet he was sure he never would have bit his glove unless he had 
received some unpardonable insult. He fell in the duel, which was fought near 
Selkirk, in 1721. 



CANTO VI.] THE LAST MINSTREL. 1^3 

Now sought the castle buttery, 
Where many a yeoman, bold and free, 
ReveU'd as merrily and well 
As those that sat in lordly selle. 
Watt Tinlinn, there, did frankly raise 
The pledge to Arthur Fire-the-Braes ; ^ 
And he, as by his breeding bound, 
To Howard's merry-men sent it round. 
To quit them, on the English side, 
Red Roland Forster loudly cried, 
*' A deep carouse to yon fair bride ! " — 
At every pledge, from vat and pail, 
Foam'd forth in floods the nut-brown ale ; 
While shout the riders every one ; 
Such day of mirth ne'er cheer'd their (Ian, 
Since old Buccleuch the name did gain, 
When in the cleuch the buck was ta'en.^ 

IX. 

The wily page, witli vengeful thought, 

Remember'd him of Tinlinn's yew. 
And swore, it should be dearly bought 

That ever he tlic arrow drew. 
F'irst, he the yeoman did molest, 
With bitter gibe and taunting jest ; 
Told, how he fled at Solway strife. 
And how Hob Armstrong cheer'd his wife ; 
Then, shunning still his ])()werful arm, 
At unawares lie wrought hiui harm ; 
l^'rom InMK'her stole his choitx'st clieer, 

1 Tlie person bearincj tliis redoubtable uom dc i^uerre was an KHiot, anci 
resided at Thorleslio])e, in T.iddesdalc. Tie occurs in tlie list of Border riders. 
in 1597. 

- [Sec A|)i)i'udi\, Note I 2.] 



146 



THE LAY OF 



[canto VI. 



Dash'd from his lips his can of beer ; 

Then, to his knee sly creeping on, 

With bodkin pierced him to the bone : 

The venom'd wound, and festering joint, 

Long after rued that bodkin's point. 

The startled yeoman swore and spurn'd. 

And board and flagons overturn'd. 

Riot and clamor wild began ; 

Back to the hall the Urchin ran ; 

Took in a darkling nook his post. 

And grinn'd, and mutter'd, "' Lost : lost I lost ! " ^ 

X. 

By this, the Dame, lest farther fray 
Should mar the concord of the day. 
Had bid the ^Minstrels tune their lay. 
And first stept forth old Albert Graeme, 
The ^Minstrel of that ancient name : '^ 



1 [" The appearance and dress of the company assembled in the chapel, and 
the description of the subsequent feast, in which the hounds and hawks are not 
the least important personages of the drama, are again happy imitations of 
those authors, from whose rich but unpolished ore Mr. Scott has wrought 
much of his most exquisite imagery and description. A society, such as that 
assembled in Branxholm Castle, inflamed with national prejudices, and heated 
with wine, seems to have contained in itself sufficient seeds of spontaneous dis- 
order ; but the goblin page is well introduced, as applying a torch to this mass 
of combustibles. Quarrels, highly characteristic of Border manners, both in 
their cause and the manner in which they are supported, ensue, as well among 
the lordly guests, as the yeomen assembled in the buttery." — Critical Review, 
1805.] 

2 " John Grahame, second son of Malice, Earl of Mo?iteitk, commonly sir- 
named yokn with the Bright Sword, upon some displeasure risen against him 
at court, retired with many of his clan and kindred into the English Borders, in 
the reign of King Henry the Fourth, where they seated themselves : and many 
of their posterity have continued there ever since. Mr. Sandford, speaking oi 
them, says (which indeed was applicable to most of the Borderers on both 
sides), ' They were all stark moss-troopers, and arrant thieves: Both to Eng- 



CANTO VI.] THE LAST MINSTREL, 1^7 

Was none who struck the harp so well, 

Within the Land Debateable ; 

Well friended, too, his hardy kin. 

Whoever lost, were sure to win ; 

They sought the beeves that made their broth, 

In Scotland and in England both. 

In homely guise, as nature bade. 

His simple song the Borderer said. 

XL 

ALBERT GRi^ME.^ 

It was an English Ladye bright, 

(The sun shines fair on Carlisle wall,^) 

land and Scotland outlawed; yet sometimes connived at, because they give 
intelligence forth of Scotland, and would raise 400 horse at any time upon a 
raid of the English into Scotland. A saying is recorded of a mother to her 
son (which is now become proverbial), Ride, Rowley, hough's i the pot : that is, 
the last piece of beef was in the pot, and therefore it was high time for him to go 
and fetch more. ' " — bttroduction to the History 0/ Cumberland. 

The residence of Graemes being chiefly in the Debateable Land, so called 
because it was claimed by both kingdoms, their depredations extended both to 
England and Scotland, with impunity ; for as both wardens accounted them 
the proper subjects of their own prince, neither inclined to demand reparation 
for their excesses from the opposite officers, which would have been an ac- 
knowledgment of his jurisdiction over them. — See a long correspondence on 
this subject betwixt Lord Dacre and the English Privy Council, in Introduction 
to History of Cutnberland. The Debateable Land was finally dividctl betwixt 
England and Scotland, by commissioners appointed by both nations.* 
* [See various notes in the Minstrelsy.] 

1[" It is the author's object, in these songs, to exemplify the dilTcMcnt stylos of 
ballad narrative which prevailed in this island at different periods, or in diflcr- 
ent conditions of society. The first (Alijert's) is conducted upon the rude 
and simple model of the old Border ditties, and produces its effect by the ilirect 
and concise narrative of a tragical occurrence." — jl.FKRKV.] 

2 This burden is adopted, with some alteration, from an old Scottisli i>i>ni;. 
beginning thus : — 

** She lean'il her hack against a tliorn. 
The sun shines fair on Carlisle wa*; 
And there she Ijas her yoiuii; hahe l)orn, 
And the lyoii shall he lord o{ a'." 



148 THE LAY OF [canto vi. 

And she would marry a Scottish knight, 
For Love will still be lord of all. 

Blithely they saw the rising sun, 

When he shone fair on Carlisle w^all ; 
But they w^ere sad ere day was done. 

Though Love was still the lord of all. 

Her sire gave brooch and jewel line. 

Where the sun shines fair on Carlisle wall ; 
Her brother gave but a flask of wine, 

For ire that Love was lord of all. 

For she had lands, both meadow and lea, 
Where the sun shines fair on Carlisle wail, 

And he swore her death, ere he would see 
A Scottish knight the lord of all ! 



XIL 

That wine she had not tasted well, 
(The sun shines fair on Carlisle wall.) 

When dead, in her true love's arms, she fell, 
For Love was still the lord of all ! 

He pierced her brother to the heart. 

Where the sun shines fair on Carlisle wall : — 
So perish all would true love part, 

That Love may still be lord of all. 

And then he took the cross divine, 

(Where the sun shines fair on Carlisle wall,) 

And died for her sake in Palestine, 
So Love was still the lord of all. 



1 






CANTO VI. j THE LAST MINSTREL. 



149 



Now all ye lovers, that faithful prove, 

(The sun shines fair on Carlisle wall,) 
Pray for their souls who died for love, 

For Love shall still be lord of all ! 

XIII. 
As ended Albert's simple lay, 

Arose a bard of loftier port ; 
For sonnet, rhyme, and roundelay, 

Renown'd in haughty Henry's court. 
There rung thy harp, unrivall'd long, 
Fitztraver of the silver song ! 

The gentle Surrey loved his lyre — 

AVHio has not heard of Surrey's fame ? ' 
His was the hero's soul of fire. 

And his the bard's immortal name. 
And his was love, exalted high 
By all the glow of chivalry. 

XIV. 

They sought, together, climes afar. 

And oft, within some olive grove, 
When even came with twinkHng star, 

They sung of Surrey's absent love. 
His step the Italian j)easant stay'd, 

And decm'd, that spirits from on high, 

1 The gallant and unfortunate Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, was unques- 
tionably the most accomplished cavalier of his time; and liis sonnets display 
beauties which would do honor to a more polished age. He was beheaded on 
Tower-hill in 1546; a victim to tlie mean jealousy of Henry V'HI., who could 
not bear so brilliant a cliaracter near his throne. 

The song of the supposed bard is founded on an incident said to liave hap- 
|)en(Kl to the K.ul in his travels. Cornelius Agripj^a, the celebrated alchemist, 
showed him, in a looking-glass, the lovely Geraliiine, to whose seivicc he had 
devoted his pen and his sword. The vision rcprt^scnteii her as indisposed, and 
reclining ui)on a couch, reading her lover's verses by the light of a waxen i.i:um. 



I50 



THE LAY OF 



[canto VI. 



Round where sozie : err :: saint was laid. 

Were breathing t . v melody ; 
So sweet did haip : mbine,! 

To praise the name :: ^^-^.r,. ...ae. 

XV. 

Fitztraver ' ^> v' -: : _ e : ^^ 
The pa: _ : : : : :: r . 

^Mien Surr r . : : . f : r : . ess lay, 

Ungratef.r ~.;;V:'5 srrTerir sle-:v? 
Regardless i:* :/t : : : : - : : : 



V.":-; 
L:r 



patron's name, 
? ztraver came ; 

7 :st favorite he, 



FrrZTRA\^ER.^ 

Twas All-soul's eve, and Sorrey's heart beat high ; 

He heard the midnight bell with anxious start. 
Which told the mystic hour, approaching nigh. 

When wise Cornelius promised, by his art. 
To show to him the ladye of his heart. 

Albeit betwixt them roar'd the ocean grim ; 
Yet so the sage had hight to play his part. 

That he should see her form in life and limb. 
And mark, if still she loved, and still she thought of him. 

1 [First EdiL — "So sweet their karp OMd voices J0iMr'\ 

^ [" The second song, that of Fitztraver, the bard of the accompfished Sur- 
rey, has more of the richness and polish of the Italian poetiy, and is Ycrj beau- 
tifully written in a stanza resembling that of Spenser." — JEFFREY.] 



CANTO VI.] 



THE LAST MINSTREL. 



151 



XVII. 

Dark was the vaulted room of gramarye, 

To which the wizard led the gallant Knight, 
Save that before a mirror, huge and high, 

A hallowed taper shed a gUmmering light 
On mystic implements of magic might ; 

On cross, and character, and talisman. 
And almagest, and altar, nothing bright : 

For fitful was the lustre, pale and wan, 
As watchlight by the bed of some departing man. 

XVIII. 

But soon, within that mirror huge and high. 

Was seen a self-emitted light to gleam ; 
And forms upon its breast the Earl 'gan spy, 

Cloudy and indistinct, as feverish dream ; 
Till, slow arranging, and defined, they seem 

To form a lordly and a lofty room, 
Part lighted by a lamp with silver beam. 

Placed by a couch of Agra's silken loom. 
And part by moonshine pale, and part was hid in gloom. 



XIX. 

Fair all the pageant — but how passing fair 

The slender form, which lay on couch of Ind ! 
O'er her white bosom stray'd her hazel hair. 

Pale her dear cheek, as if for love she pined ; 
All in her night-robe loose she lay reclincil, 

And, pensive, read from tablet cburninc. 
Some strain that seem'd her inmost soul to fuul : - 

That favor'd strain was Surrey's raplurtd line. 
That fair and lovely form, the Lady Cieraldine. 



IC2 THE LAY OF [canto vi. 



XX. 

Slow roU'd the clouds upon the lovely form. 

And swept the goodly vision all away — 
So royal en\y roU'd the murky storm 

O'er my beloved Master's glorious day. 
Thou jealous, ruthless tyrant ! Heaven repay 

On thee, and on thy children's latest line. 
The wild caprice of thy despotic sway. 

The gory bridal bed, the plundered shrine, 
^ The murder'd Surrey's blood, the tears of Geraldine ! 

XXL 

Both Scots, and Southern chiefe, prolong 
Applauses of Fitztraver's song ; 
These 'd:r . Ht Dry's name as death, 
Ac;: 7 : le ancient faith. — 

Thc^i. i.^.^ ..,z -; :. .vith lofty air. 
Rose Harold, bard of brave St. Clair ; 
Sl Clair, who, feasting hi,:. :: H: /-:r. 
Had with that lord to ba:: r. 

Harold was bom where : r —as 

Howl round the storm-swept Orcades ; ^ 
Where erst Sl Clairs held princely sway 
O'er isle and islet, strait and bay ; — 
Still nods their palace to its fall. 
Thy pride and sorrow, ^ir Kirkwall ! — ^ 
Thence oft he mark'd fierce Pentland rave. 
As if grim Odin rode her wave ; 
And watch'd, the whilst, with \-i5age pale. 
And throbbing heart, the struggling sail ; 

^ [See Appendix, Note K 2.] 
2 [See Appendix, Note L 2.I 



CANTO VI.] THE LAST MINSTREL. 153 

For all of wonderful and wild 
Had rapture for the lonely child. 

XXII. 

And much of wild and wonderful 

In these rude isles might fancy cull ; 

For thither came, in times afar, 

Stern Lochlin's sons of roving war. 

The Norsmen, train'd to spoil and blood, 

Skiird to prepare the raven's food ; 

Kings of the main their leaders brave, 

Their barks the dragons of the wave.' 

And there, in many a stormy vale, 

The Scald had told his wondrous tale ; 

And many a Runic column high 

Had witness'd grim idolatry. 

And thus had Harold, in his youth, 

Learn 'd many a Saga's rhyme uncouth, — 

Of that Sea-Snake, tremendous curl'd. 

Whose monstrous circle girds the world ; ^ 

Of those dread Maids,^ whose hideous yell 

Maddens the battle's bloody swell ; 

Of chiefs, who, guided through the gloom 

By the pale death-lights of the tomb, 

Ransack'd the graves of warriors old, 

' [The chiefs of the Vakingr, or Scandinavian jiiratcs, assunicil the title of 
Scekoiiufii^r, or Sea-kings. Ships, in tlie inflated hinguage of tlie Scalds, are 
often terin(.'d tlie serpents of the ocean.] 

2 'T\\('.j<)?)/i/(;fi{a//dr, or Snake (^f the Ocean, whose fokls surround the earth, 
is one of the wildest fictions t)f the lulda. It was very nearly cauglit by the god 
Thor, who went to fish for it with a hook baited with a bull's liead. In the bat- 
tle betwixt the evil demons and the divinities of Odin, wliich is to precede the 
Rag}uirock)\ or Twilight of the Gods, this Snake is to act a conspicuous part. 

•' These* were thc^ Valcyriii>\ or Selectors of the Slain, (k^spatched by Odin 
fioin Valhalla, to choose those who were to die, and to distribute the contest. 
They aic well known to the ICnglish reader, as (hay's I-'af \\ Sisters. 



154 



THE LAY OF 



|_CAXTO VI. 



Their falchions wrench'd from corpses' hold,^ 
Waked the deaf tomb with war's alarms^ 
And bade the dead arise to arms !^ 
With war and wonder all on flame. 
To Roslin's bowers young Harold came, 
Where, by sweet glen and greenwood tree, 
He learn'd a milder minstrelsy ; 
Yet something of the Northern spell 
IMix'd with the softer numbers well. 

xxni. 

HAROLD.^ 



O listen, listen, ladies gay ! 

No haughty feat of arms I tell ; 
Soft is the note, and sad the lay, 

That mourns the lovelv Rosabelle.^ 



1 The northern warriors were usually entombed with their arms and their 
other treasures. Thus Angantyr, before commencing the duel in which he was 
slain, stipulated, that if he fell, his sword Tyrfing should be buried with him. 
His daughter, Hervor, afterwards took it from his tomb. The dialogue which 
passed betwixt her and Angantyr's spirit on this occasion has been often trans- 
lated. The whole history may be found in the Hervarar-Saga. Indeed, the 
ghosts of the northern warriors were not wont tamely to suffer their tombs to be 
plundered ; and hence the mortal heroes had an additional temptation to at- 
tempt such adventures ; for they held nothing more worthy of their valor than 
to encounter supernatural beings. — Bartholinus De causis contemptcB a Da- 
nis mortis, lib. i. cap. 2, 9, 10, 13. 

2 [" The third song is intended to represent that wild style of composition 
which prevailed among the bards of the Northern Continent, somewhat softened 
and adorned by the Minstrel's residence in the South. We prefer it, upon the 
whole, to either of the two former, and shall give it entire to our readers, who 
will probably be struck with the poetical effect of the dramatic form in which it 
is thrown, and of the indirect description by which everA^hing is most express- 
ively told, without one word of a distinct narrative." — JEFFREY.] 

3 This was a family name in the house of St. Clair. Henry St. Clair, the 
second of the line, married Rosabelle, fourth daughter of the Earl of Stratherne. 



CANTO VI.] THE LAST MINSTREL, 1 55 

— " Moor, moor the barge, ye gallant crew ! 

And, gentle ladye, deign to stay ! 
Rest thee in Castle Ravensheuch,i 

Nor tempt the stormy firth to-day. 



" The blackening wave is edged with white ; 

To inch ^ and rock the sea-mews fly ; 
The fishers have heard the Water- Sprite, 

Whose screams forbode that wreck is nigh. 

" Last night the gifted Seer did view 

A wet shroud swathed ^ round ladye gay ; 

Then stay thee. Fair, in Ravensheuch : 
Why cross the gloomy firth to-day?'^ — 

^^ Tis not because Lord Lindesay's heir 
To-night at Roslin leads the ball, 

But that my ladye-mother there 
Sits lonely in her castle-hall. 

" Tis not because the ring they ride, 
And Lindesay at the ring rides well, 

But that my sire the wine will c hide. 
If 'tis not fiU'd by Rosabellc." — 



1 A large and strong castle, now ruinous, situated betwixt Kirkaldy and 
Dysart, on a steep crag, washed by the Frith of Fortli. It was conlVrred on Sir 
William St. ('lair, as a slight compensation for the earldom of Orkney, by a 
charter of King James III., dated in 1471, and is now the i)roperty of Sir James 
St. Clair I'>skinc (now I'^arl of Rosslyn), representative of the family. It was 
long a principal residence of the Harons of Roslin. 

•-i Inch, Isle. 

» \First Edit. — " A wet shroud /v//'./."] 



156 



THE LAY OF 



[canto VI. 



O'er Roslin all that dreary night, 

A wondrous blaze was seen to gleam ; 

'Twas broader than the watch-fire's light. 
And redder than the bright moon-beam. 

It glared on Roslin's castled rock, 

It ruddied ^ all the copse-wood glen ; 
'Twas seen from Dnden's groves of oak, 

And seen from cavern'd Hawthornden. 

Seem'd all on nre that chapel proud, 
Where Roslin's chiefs uncoffin'd lie, 

Each Baron, for a sable shroud. 
Sheathed in his iron panoply. 

Seem'd all on fire within, around, 
Deep sacristy '^ and altar's pale \ 

Slione every pillar foliage-bound. 

And glimmered all the dead men's mail.^ 



1 \Fl?-5!^ Edit. — " It reddenedl' 6l:c.] 

- [First Edit. — " Both vaulted crypt," &c.] 

3 The beautiful chapel of Roslin is still in tolerable preser\^ation. It was 
founded in 1446, by William St. Clair, Prince of Orkney, Duke of Oldenburgh, 
Earl of Caithness and Stratherne, Lord St. Clair, Lord Niddesdale, Lord Ad- 
miral of the Scottish Seas, Lord Chief Justice of Scotland. Lord Warden of the 
three Marches, Baron of Roslin, Pentland, Pentland-moor, &c., Knight of the 
Cockle, and of the Garter (as is affirmed), High Chancellor, Chamberlain, and 
Lieutenant of Scotland. This lofty person, whose titles, says Godscroft, might 
weary a Spaniard, built the castle of Roslin, where he resided in princely splen- 
dor, and founded the chapel, which is in the most rich and florid style of 
Gothic architecture. Among the profuse cannng on the pillars and buttresses, 
the rose is frequently introduced, in allusion to the name, with which, however, 
tlie flower has no connection ; the etymology being Rosslinnbe, the promontory 
of the linn, or water-fall. The chapel is said to appear on fire previous to the 
death of any of his descendants. This superstition, noticed by Slezer in his 
Teatrum ScotUe^ and alluded to in the text, is probably of Norwegian deriva- 
tion, and may have been imported by the Elarls of Orkney into their Lothian 
dominions. The tomb-fires of the north are mentioned in most of the Sagas. 



CANTO VI.] THE LAST MINSTREL. 1 57 

Blazed battlement and pinnet high, 

Blazed every rose-carved buttress fair — 

So still they blaze, when fate is nigh 
The lordly line of high St. Clair. 



There are twenty of Roslin's barons bold 
Lie buried within that proud chapelle ; 

Each one the holy vault doth hold — 
But the sea holds lovely Rosabelle ! 



And each St. Clair was buried there, 

With candle, with book, and with knell ; 

But the sea-caves rung, and the wild winds sung,* 
The dirge of lovelv Rosabelle. 



The Barons of Roslin were buried in a vault beneath the chapel floor. The 
manner of their interment is thus described by Father Hay in the MS. history 
already quoted. 

"Sir William Sinclair, the father, was a leud man. He kept a miller's 
daughter, with whom, it is alleged, he went to Ireland ; yet I think the cause 
of his retreat was rather occasioned by the Presbyterians, who vexed him sadly 
because of his religion being Roman Catholic. His son. Sir William, died 
during the troubles, and was interred in the chapel of Roslin the very same day 
that the battle of Dunbar was fought. When my good-faiher was buried, his 
{I.e., Sir William's) corpse seemed to be entire at the opening of the cave; but 
when they came to touch his body, it fell into dust. He was laying in his ar- 
mor, with a red velvet capon his head, on a flat stone; nothing was spoiled 
except a piece of the white furring that went round the cap, and answered to 
the hindei part of the head. All his predecessors were buried after the same 
manner, in their armor; late Rosline, my good-father, was the first that was 
buried in a cofTm against the sentiments of King James the Seventh, who was 
then in Scotland, and several other persons well versed in antiquity, to wliom 
my mother would not hearken, thinking it beggarly to be buried after that man- 
ner. The great expenses she was at in burying her husband, occasioned the 
sumptuary acts which were made in the following parliament." 

I \Fhst luiif. " Hut the Kelpio rung and the Mermaids sung."] 



158 THE LAY OF [canto vi. 

XXIV. 

f So sweet was Harold's piteous lay,i 

Scarce mark'd the guests the darken'd hall, 
Though, long before the sinking day, 

A wondrous shade involved them all : 
It was not eddying mist or fog, 
Drain'd by the sun from fen or bog ; 

Of no eclipse had sages told ; 
And yet, as it came on apace. 
Each one could scarce his neighbor's face. 

Could scarce his own stretch'd hand behold. 
A secret horror check'd the feast. 
And chill'd the soul of every guest ; 
Even the high Dame stood half aghast. 
She knew some evil on the blast ; 
The elvish page fell to the ground, 
And, shuddering, mutter'd, '' Found ! found ! found ! " 

XXV. 

Then sudden, through the darken'd air 

A flash of lightning came ; 
So broad, so bright, so red the glare, 

The castle seem'd on flame. 
Glanced every rafter of the hall, 
Glanced every shield upon the wall ; 
Each trophied beam, each sculptured stone. 
Were instant seen, and instant gone : 
Full through the guests' bedazzled band 
Resistless fiash'd the levin-brand. 
And fill'd the hall with smouldering smoke 

1 [" I observe a great poetic climax, designed, doubtless, in the two last of 
these songs, from the first." — Anna Seward.] 



CANTO VI.] THE LAST MINSTREL. j-q 

As on the elvish page it broke. 

It broke, with thunder long and loud, 
Dismay'd the brave, appall'd the proud, — 

From sea to sea the larum rung ; 
On Berwick wall, and at Carlisle withal, 
To arms the startled warders sprung. 
When ended was the dreadful roar, 
The elvish dwarf was seen no more ! ^ 



1 "The Goblin Page, is, in our opinion, the capital deformity of the poem. 
We have already said the whole machinery is useless ; but the magic studies of 
the lady, and the rifled tomb of Michael Scott, give occasion to so much admi- 
rable poetry, that we can on no account consent to part with them. The page, 
on the other hand, is a perpetual burden to the poet, and to the reader ; it is an 
undignified and improbable fiction, which excites neither terror, admiration, 
nor jastonishment, but needlessly debases the strain of the whole work, and ex- 
cites at once our incredulity and contempt. He is not a ' tricksy spirit,' like 
Ariel, with whom the imagination is irresistibly enamored, nor a tiny monarch, 
like Oberon, disposing of the destinies of mortals ; he rather appears to us to 
be an awkward sort of a mongrel between Puck and Caliban, of a servile and 
brutal nature, and limited in his powers to the indulgence of petty malignity, 
and the infliction of despicable injuries. Besides this objection to his character, 
his existence has no support from any general or established superstition. 
Fairies and devils, ghosts, angels, and witches, are creatures with whom we are 
all familiar, and who excite in all classes of mankind emotions with which we 
can easily be made to sympathize. But the history of Gilpin Horner was never 
believed out of the village where he is said to have made his appearance, and 
has no claims upon the credulity of those who were not originally of his ac- 
quaintance. There is nothing at all interesting or elegant in the scenes of 
which he is the hero; and in reading these passages, we really could not help 
suspecting that they did not stand in the romance when the ageil minstrel re- 
cited it to the royal Charles and his mighty earls, but were inserted afterwards 
to suit the taste of the cottagers among whom he begged his bread on the 
Border. We entreat Mr. Scott to enquire into the grounds of this suspicion, 
and to take advantage of any decent jnetcxt he can lay hold of for purging the 
' Lay ' of tliis ungraceful intruder* We would also move for a quo warranto 
against the Si)irits of the River and the Mountain ; for, though they are come 
of a very high lineage, we do not know what lawful business they coulil have at 
Branksoiue Castle in the yi-ar 1550." — jl".l"l' Ki:v.] 

♦ Sec llic Author's Imnuhution lo the " Lay.*" p. 17. 



l60 ^-^^ ^^^' OF [CANTO VI. 

XXVI. 
Some heard a voice in Branksome Hall, 
Some saw a sight not seen by all ; 
That dreadful voice was heard by some, 
Cry, with loud summons, '"Gylbin, come ! " 

And on the spot where burst the brand, 
Just where the page had flung him down, 

Some saw an arm, and some a hand, 
And some the weaving of a gown. 
The guests in silence pray'd and shook. 
And terror dimm'd each lofty look. 
But none of all the astonish'd train 
Was so dismay'd as Deloraine : 
His blood did freeze, his brain did burn, 
'Twas fear'd his mind would ne'er return ; 

For he was speechless, ghastly, wan, 

Like him of whom the story ran, 

Who spoke the spectre-hound in Man.^ 

1 The ancient castle of Peel-town in the Isle of Man, is surrounded by four 
churches, now ruinous. Through one of these chapels there was formerly a 
passage from the guard-room of the garrison. This was closed, it is said, upon 
the following occasion : " They say, that an apparition, called, in the Mankish 
language, the Mauthe Doog, in the shape of a large black spaniel, with curled 
shaggy hair, was used to haunt Peel-castle ; and has been frequently seen in 
every room, but particularly in the guard-chamber, where, as soon as candles 
were lighted, it came and lay down before the tire, in presence of all the soldiers, 
who, at length, by being so much accustomed to the sight of it, lost great part 
of the terror they were seized with at its first appearance. They still, however, 
retained a certain awe, as believing it was an evil spirit, which only waited per- 
mission to do them hurt ; and, for that reason, forebore swearing, and all pro- 
fane discourse, while in its company. But though they endured the shock of 
such a gue^t when altogether in a body, none cared to be left alone with it. It 
being the custom, therefore, for one of the soldiers to lock the gates of the 
castle at a certain hour, and carry the keys to the captain, to whose apartment, 
as I said before, the way led through the church, they agreed among themselves, 
that whoever was to succeed the ensuing night his fellow in this errand, should 
accompany him that went first, and by this means no man would be exposed 



CANTO VI.] THE LAST MfNSTREL. ^(j^ 

At length, by fits, he darkly told, 
With broken hint, and shuddering cold 

That he had seen, right certainly, 
A shape with amice wrapfd arou?idy 
With a wrought Spanish baldric bound, 

Like pilg7'im fro7n beyond the sea ; 
And knew — but how it matter'd not — 
It was the wizard, Michael Scott. 

XXVII. 
The anxious crowd, with horror pale, 
All trembling heard the wondrous tale ; 

singly to the danger; for, I forgot to mention, that the Maiithe Doog was always 
seen to come out from that passage at the close of the day, and return to it 
again as soon as the morning dawned ; which made them look on this place as 
its peculiar residence. 

" One night a fellow being drunk, and by the strength of his liquor rendered 
more daring than ordinarily, laughed at the simplicity of his companions ; and, 
though it was not his turn to go with the keys, would needs take that office 
upon him, to testify his courage. All the soldiers endeavored to dissuade him ; 
but the more they said, the more resolute he seemed, and swore that he desired 
nothing more than that the Mauthe Doog would follow him as it had done the 
others ; for he would try if it were dog or devil. After having talked in a very 
reprobate manner for some time, he snatched up the keys, and went out of the 
guard-room. In some time after his departure, a great noise was heard, but 
nobody had the boldness to see what occasioned it, till, the adventurer return- 
ing, they demanded the knowledge of him ; but as loud and noisy as he had 
been at leaving them, he was now become sober and silent enough ; for he was 
never heard to speak more; and through all the time he lived, which was tliree 
days, he was entreated by all who came near him, either to speak, or, if lie 
could not do that, to make some signs, by which they might understand what 
liad happened to him, yet nothing intelligible could be got from him, only that, 
by the distortion of the limbs and features, it might bo guessed that he died in 
agonies more than is common in a natural death. 

" The Afauthc Doog was, however, never after seen in the castle, nor would 
anyone attempt to go through that passage; for which reason it was closed up, 
and another way made. This accident happened about three-score years since ; 
and I heard it attested by several, but especially by an old soldier, who assured 
me he had seen it oftener than he had hairs on his head." — WalDRON'S ZV- 
scnption of the Isle of A fan, p. 107. 



1 62 I^^E, LAV OF [CANTO VI. 

No sound was made, no word was spoke, 

Till noble Angus silence broke ; 
And he a solemn sacred plight 

Did to St. Bride of Douglas make^^ 

That he a pilgrimage would take 

To Melrose Abbey, for the sake 
Of Michael's resdess sprite. 
Then each to ease his troubled breast, 
To some bless 'd saint his prayers addressed ; 
Some to St. Modan made their vows, 
Some to St. Mary of the Lowes, 
Some to the Holy Rood of Lisle, 
Some to our Ladye of the Isle. 
Each did his patron witness make. 
That he such pilgrimage would take, 
And Monks should sing, and bells should toll. 
All for the weal of MichaePs soul. 
While vows were ta'en, and prayers were pray'd, 
'Tis said the noble dame, dismay'd. 
Renounced, for aye, dark magic's aid. 

xxvin. 

Nought of the bridal will I tell. 
Which after in short space befell ; 
Nor how brave sons and daughters fair 
Blessed Teviot's Flower, and Cranstoun's heir : 

1 This was a favorite saint of the house of Douglas, and of the Earl of An- 
gus in particular; as we learn from the following passage: — "The Queen- 
regent had proposed to raise a rival noble to the ducal dignity : and discours- 
ing of her purpose with Angus, he answered, ' Why not, madam? we are happy 
that have such a princess, that can know and will acknowledge men's services, 
and is willing to recompense it; but, by the might of God* (this was his oath 
when he was serious and in anger ; at other times, it was by St. Bryde of Doug- 
las), 'if he be a Duke, I will be a Drake! * — So she desisted from prosecut- 
ing of that purpose." — GODSCROFT, vol. ii. p, 131. 



I 



CANTO VI.] 



THE LAST MINSTREL. 



163 



After such dreadful scene, 'twere vain 
To wake the note of mirth again. 
More meet it were to mark the day 
Of penitence and prayer divine, 
When Pilgrim-chiefs, in sad array, 
Sought Melrose' holy shrine. 

'\ji^f/l^ ^t^>t^ -/ XXIX. 

With naked feet, and sackcloth vest, 
And arms enfolded on his breast, 

Did every pilgrim go ; 
The standers-by might hear uneath, 
Footstep, or voice, or high-drawn breath. 

Through all the lengthen'd row : 
No lordly look, nor martial stride, 
Gone was their glory, sunk their pride. 

Forgotten their renown ; 
Silent and slow, like ghosts they glide 
To the high altar's hallow'd side. 

And there they knelt them down : 
Above the suppliant chieftains wave 
The banners of departed brave ; 
Beneath the letter 'd stones were laid 
The ashes of their fathers dead ; 
From many a garnish'd niche around, 
Stern saints and tortured martyrs frown'd. 

XXX. 

And slow up the dim aisle afar, 
With sable cowl and scapular, 
And snow-white stoles, in order due, 
Tlic holy 1^'atliers, two and two, 

In long i)rocession (^amc ; 
Taper, and host, and book they bare, 



1 64 THE LAY OF [canto vi. 

And holy banner, flourish' d fair 

With the Redeemer's name. 
Above the prostrate pilgrim band 
The mitred Abbot stretch'd his hand, 

And bless'd them as they kneel'd ; 
With holy cross he signed them all, 
And pray'd they might be sage in hall, 

And fortunate in field. 
Then mass was sung, and prayers were said, 
. And solemn requiem for the dead ; 
And bells toll'd out their mighty peal, 
For the departed spirit's weal ; 
And ever in the office close 
The hymn of intercession rose ; 
And far the echoing aisles prolong 
The awful burthen of the song, — 

Dies iRiE, dies illa, 

SOLVET SiECLUM IN FAVILLA ; 

While the peaHng organ rung ; 

Were it meet with sacred strain 

To close my lay, so light and vain, 
Thus the holy Fathers sung. 

XXXI. 

HYMN FOR THE DEAD. 

That day of wrath, that dreadful day. 
When heaven and earth shall pass away, 
What power shall be the sinner's stay? 
How shall he meet that dreadful day? 

When, shrivelling like a parched scroll. 
The flaming heavens together roll ; 
When louder yet, and yet more dread, 
Swells the high trump that wakes the dead ! 




■ AI)ovc the prostrnh! |»ilLrrim hiiiul 
'Plit; milriul Al)l)i)t slrclcird his IimmiI." 

(^Nl(> \i. ;^o. 



J 



1 



CANTO VI.] 



THE LAST MINSTREL. 



i6; 



Oh ! on tliat day, that wrathful day, 
When man to judgment wakes from clay, 
Be Thou the trembling sinner's stay. 
Though heaven and earth shall pass away ! 



Hush'd is the harp — the Minstrel gone. 
And did he wander forth alone? 
Alone, in indigence and age, 
To linger out his pilgrimage ? 
No : — close beneath proud Newark's tower,i 
Arose the Minstrel's lowly bower ; 
A simple hut : but there was seen 
The little garden hedged with green, 
The cheerful hearth and lattice clean. 
There sheltered wanderers, by the blaze, 
Oft heard the tale of other days ; 
For much he loved to ope his door, 
And give the aid he begg'd before. 
So pass'd the winter's day ; but still, 
When summer smiled on sweet Bowhill,^ 

1 [** the vale unfolds 



Rich groves of lofty stature, 
With Yarrow winding through the pomp 

Of cultivated nature; 
And, rising from those lofty groves, 

Behold a ruin hoary, 
The shattered front of Newark's towers, 

Renown'd in Border story. 
*' Fair scenes for childhood's opening bloom 

For sportive youth to stray in; 
For manhood to enjoy his strength; 

And age to wear away in," &c. 

Wokoswokth's Yarr(>7v J't'sift-if.] 

2 [Bowhill is now, as lias hccn nuntioiuHl «ilready, a seat of tho 1 )uke of Buc- 
cleuch. It stands immediately below Newark Hill, and above the junetion of 
the Yarrow and the I'.ttrick. For the other plaees named in the text, tlie reader 
is referred to various notes on the Minstrelsy of the Scottish Bonier. — VAh] 



1 66 THE LAY OF [canto VL 

And July's eve, with balmy breath, 
Waved the blue -bells on Newark heath ; 
When throstles sung in Harehead-shaw, 
And corn was green on Carterhaugh,^ 
And flourish'd, broad, Blackandro's oak, 
The aged Harper's soul awoke ! 
Then would he sing achievements high, 
And circumstance of chivalry, 
Till the rapt traveller would stay, 
Forgetful of the closing day : 
And noble youths the strain to hear, 
Forsook the hunting of the deer ; 
And Yarrow, as he roll'd along, 
Bore burden to the Minstrel's son 2^.^ 



1 \Orig. — " And grain waved green on Carterhaugh."] 

2 [" The large quotations we have made from this singular poem must have 
convinced our readers that it abounds equally with poetical description, and 
with circumstances curious to the antiquary. These are further illustrated in 
copious and very entertaining notes : they, as well as the poem, must be par- 
ticularly interesting to those v/ho are connected with Scottish families, or con- 
versant in their history. The author has managed the versification of the poem 
with great judgment, and the most happy effect. If he had aimed at the grave 
and stately cadence of the epic, or any of our more regular measures, it would 
have been impossible for him to have brought in such names as Watt T'uilinn^ 
Black jfohn, Priesthaugh, Scrogg, and other Scottish names, or to have spoken 
of the lyke-wake, and the slogan, and driving of cattle, which Pope and Gray 
would have thought as impossible to introduce into serious poetry, as Boileau 
did the names of towns in the campaigns of Louis IV. Mr. Scott has, therefore, 
very judiciously thrown in a great mixture of the familiar, and varied the meas- 
ure ; and if it has not the finished harmony which, in such a subject, it were in 
vain to have attempted, it has great ease and spirit, and never tires the reader. 
Indeed we think we see a tendency in the public taste to go back to the more 
varied measures and famihar style of our earlier poets ; a natural consequence 
of having been satiated with the regular harmony of Pope and his school, and 
somewhat wearied with the stiffness of lofty poetic language. We now know 
what can be done in that way, and we seek entertainment and variety, rather 
than finished modulation and uniform dignity. We now take our leave of this 
very elegant, spirited, and striking poem." — Afinual Review, 1804.] 



CANTO VI.] THE LAST MINSTREL, 167 

[" From the various extracts we have given, our readers will be enabled to 
form a tolerably correct judgment of the poem ; and, if they are pleased with 
those portions of it which have now been exhibited, we may venture to assure 
them that they will not be disappointed by the perusal of the whole. The whole 
night journey of Deloraine — the opening of the Wizard's tomb — the march of 
the English battle — and the parley before the walls of the castle, are all exe- 
cuted with the same spirit and poetical energy, which we think is conspicuous 
in the specimens we have already extracted, and a great variety of short passa- 
ges occur in every part of the poem, which are still more striking and meritori- 
ous, though it is impossible to detach them, without injury, in the form of a 
quotation. It is but fair to apprize the reader, on the other hand, that he will 
meet with very heavy passages and with a variety of details which are not likely 
to interest any one but a Borderer or an antiquary. We like very well to hear 
of ' the gallant Chief of Otterburne,' or ' the Dark Knight of Liddesdale,' and 
feel the elevating power of great names, when we read of the tribes that mus- 
tered to the war, ' beneath the crest of old Dunbar and Hepburn's mingled ban- 
ners.' But we really cannot so far sympathize with the local partialities of the 
author, as to feel any glow of patriotism or ancient virtue in hearing of the Tod- 
rig or Johnston clans, or oi Elliots, Arjnstroiigs, and Thi linns ; still less can we 
relish the introduction of Black Jock of Athelstane, Whitslade the Hawk, Ar- 
thur Fire-the-Braes, Red Roland Forster, or any other of those worthies, who 

" Sought the beeves that made their broth, 
In Scotland and in England both," 

into a poem which has any pretensions to seriousness or dignity. The ancient 
metrical romance might have admitted these homely personalities ; but the 
present age will not endure them ; and Mr. Scott must either sacrifice his Bor- 
der prejudices, or offend all his readers in the other parts of the empire." — 
Tkffrey.] 



II 



APPENDIX. 



r 



APPENDIX. 



Note A. ^ 

The feast was over in Branksome taiver. — P. 35. 

In the reign of James I., Sir William Scott of Buccleuch, chief of the 
clan bearing that name, exchanged, with Sir Thomas Inglis of Manor, the 
estate of Murdieston, in Lanarkshire, for one-half of the barony of Brank- 
some, or Brankholm,^ lying upon the Teviot, about three miles above 
Hawick. He was probably induced to this transaction from the vicinity 
of Branksome to the extensive domain which he possessed in Ettrick For- 
est and in Teviotdale. In the former district he held by occupancy the 
estate of Buccleuch,^ and much of the forest land on the river Ettrick. In 
Teviotdale, he enjoyed the barony of Eckford, by a grant from Robert H. 
to his ancestor, Walter Scott of Kirkurd, for the apprehending of Gilbert 
Ridderford, confirmed by Robert UL, 3d May, 1424. Tradition imimtes 
the exchange betwixt Scott and Inglis to a conversation, in which the 
latter, a man, it would appear, of a mild and forbearing nature, complained 
much of the injuries which he was exposed to from the English Borderers, 
who frequently plundered his lands of Branksome. Sir William Scott 
instantly offered him the estate of Murdiestone, in exchange for that which 
was subject to such egregious inconvenience. When the bargain was 
completed, he dryly remarked, that the cattle in Cumberland were as good 
as those of Teviotdale ; and procectled to commence a system of reprisals 
upon the English, which was regularly pur.^uetl by his successors. In the 

1 Hranxholm is the proper name of the barony ; but Hranksmnc h.is been .uii>plc<.l, as 
suitable to the pronunciation, and more proper for poetry. 

2 There are no vestiges of any building at Buccleuch, except the site t»f a chai>cl, where, 
according to a tradition current in the time of Scott of Salchclls, many of the ancient bar- 
ons of Buccleuch lie buried. There is also said to have been a mill near this solitary s|H>t; 
an extraordinary circumstance, as little or no corn grows wilhin several miles of Hue- 
cleuch. Satcliells says it was uscil to griml corn for tlie hounds of the chieftain. 



17^ 



THE LAY OF 



next reign, James II. granted to Sir ^Yalter Scott of Branksome, and to 
Sir David, his son, the remaining half of the barony of Branksome, to be 
lield in blanche for the payment of a red rose. The cause assigned for the 
grant is, their brave and faithful exertions in favor of the King against the 
house of Douglas, with whom James had been recently tugging for the 
throne of Scotland. This charter is dated the 2d February, 1443; and, in 
the same month, part of the barony of Langholm, and many lands in 
Lanarkshire, were conferred upon Sir Walter and his son by the same 
monarch. 

After the period of the exchange with Sir Thomas Inglis, Branksome 
became the principal seat of the Buccleuch family. The castle was en- 
larged and strengthened by Sir Da^id Scott, the grandson of Sir ^YilHam, 
its first possessor. But, in 15 70-1, the vengeance of Elizabeth, provoked 
by the inroads of Buccleuch, and his attachment to the cause of Queen 
Mary, destroyed the castle, and laid waste the lands of Branksome. In 
the same year the castle was repaired and enlarged by Sir Walter Scott, 
its brave possessor; but the work was not completed until after his death, 
in 1574, when the widow finished the building. This appears from the 
following inscriptions. Around a stone, bearing the arms of Scott of Buc- 
cleuch, appears the following legend: — " .$ir M. ^rott of ^ranifbtim ^n;Dt 
0£ of ^ir Milliam ^rotl of ^irkurtr Miigt brgan m fcoork upon gc 2^ of glarcbt 
XhlX 5xtr quba bjcpErtit at (^ob's plnsottr gc XI ^pril loc-l." On a similar 
copartment are sculptured the arms of Douglas, with this inscription, 
"Dame Margaret Douglas his spous completit the forsaid work 
IN October 1576.'- Over an arched door is inscribed the follo^^'ing 
moral verse : — 

<* gn. barUr. is. nocbt. nature, brs. brongbi. pat. sal. Irst. ag. 
^barrfort. strbt. diob. kfip. bril. gc. rob. tbg. farnt. sal. nocbt. brkag. 
§ir Malttr ^cot of granifbolm ^nigbt. Hlargard gouglas. loZX." 

Branksome Castle continued to be the principal seat of the Buccleuch 
family, while security was any object in their choice of a mansion. It has 
since been the residence of the Commissioners, or Chamberlains of the 
family. From the various alterations which the building has undergone, 
it is not only greatly restricted in its dimensions, but retains little of the 
castellated form, if we except one square tower of massy thickness, the 
only part of the original building which now remains. The whole forms 
a handsome modern residence, lately inhabited by my deceased friend, 
Adam Ogilvy, Esq., of Ilartwoodmyres, Commissioner of his Grace the 
Duke of Buccleuch. 



THE LAST MINSTREL. 173 

The extent of the ancient edifice can still be traced by some vestiges of 
its foundation, and its strength is obvious from the situation, on a deep 
bank surrounded by the Teviot, and flanked by a deep ravine, formed by a 
precipitous brook. It was anciently surrounded by wood, as appears from 
the survey of Roxburghshire, made for Font's Atlas, and preserved in the 
Advocates' Library. This wood was cut about fifty years ago, but is now 
replaced by the thriving plantations, which have been formed by the noble 
proprietor, for miles around the ancient mansion of his forefathers. 



Note B. 

Nine-and-twenty knights of fame 

Hu7ig their shields in Bra7iksof7ie-Hall. — P. 36. 

The ancient Barons of Buccleuch, both from feudal splendor, and from 
their frontier situation, retained in their household, at Branksome, a num- 
ber of gentlemen of their own name, who held lands from their chief, for 
the military service of watching and warding his castle. Satchells tells us, 
in his doggerel poetry, — 

** No baron was better served in Britain; 
The barons of Buckleugh they kept their call, 
Four and twenty gentlemen in their hall, 
All being of his name and kin; 
Each two had a servant to wait upon them; 
Before supper and dinner, most renowned, 
The bells rung and the trumpets sowned; 
And more than that, I do confess, 
They kept four and twenty pensioners. 
Think not I lie, nor do me blame. 
For the pensioners I can all name; 
There's men alive, elder than I, 
They know if I speak truth, or lie. 
Every pensioner a room ^ did gain, 
For service done and to be done; 
This let the reader understand, 
The name both of the men and land, 
Which they possessed, it is of truth, 
l'K)th from the Lairds and Lords of BuckleuKh." 

Accordingly, dismounting from his Pegasus, Satchells gives us in prose 
the names of twenty-four gcnlK'mcii, younger brothers of ancient families, 
who were pensioners to the house i)f Buccleuch, anil describes the lands 

' Koont, portion of land. 



174 ^^ ^- 



. - = adds, "Tlese 

-'.--- -__- .^T.-;. 3^ OE ILLS own aame Oi :>coll, and Walter Glad- 

. ear cousm of my lord's, as afcnresaid, were ready on 

s honor pleased cause to adTcrtise them. It is 

^^ - „ - ; 3imtry better than it is to me, that the rent of these 

lands which the Laiids and Lords of Bucdeoch did fireely bestow iq>on 

:' t't r'rirnds, win amoont to aboTe twelTC or fourteen thousand merks 

— History of^ Name of Scatty p. 45. An immense sam in those 



TTkej watck, against Scu 

Lest Scroops or Howard^ «? ^ - ., 

Threaten Branksom^s tarz ^ 
From WarltworOL, or Naworth, or Merry Carlisle. — P. 37. 

Branksome Castle was continually exposed to the attacks of the Er^.ish. 
both firom its situation and the restless military disposition of : : 
tants, who were seldom on g€X)d terms with their neighboKS. T r 
ing letter from the Earl of Norfhnmberland to Henry VUL, in : 5 ■ ^ — 
an account of a snccessfiil inroad of the Fnglishj in whicdi the c : _:.: / 
plondered iq> to the gates of the castle, although the inTadecs £uled in 
their princqial object, which was to kill, or make prisoner, the Laird of 
Bncclench. It occurs in the Cotton MS. Calig. B. Vlll. i. zzz 

"Pleaseth yt yonr most gracious highness to be adi 
comptroller, with Raynald Camaby,- desyred Ucence of rr le 

realme of Scotland, for the annoysannce of your highnes enemys, where 
they thou^^ best exploit by theyme might be done, and to hane to concur 
withe theyme the inhabitants of N<»thnmberland, soche as was towards me 
according to theyre assemUy, and as by theyre discretions Tpone the same 
they shulde thinke most conTcnient; and soo they dyde me^ Tppon Mon- 
day, before night, bong the in day of this instant mon^he, at Wawhope, 
upon Northe Tyne water, abore Tyndaill, where they were to the number 
of XV c men, and soo invadet Scotland at the hour of Tiii of the dok at 
nyght, at a place called Whele Cansay; and before xi of the dok dyd send 
forth a iarrcf of Tyndaill and Ryddisdail, and laide all the resydewe in a 
bushment, and actyrdy did set vpon a towne csdled Branxholm, where the 
Lord of Buclough dwellythe, and purpesed theymselves with a trayne for 



THE LAST MINSTREL. 175 

hym lyke to his accustomed manner, in rysynge to all frayes; albeit, that 
knyght he was not at home, and so they brynt the said Branxholm, and 
other townes, as to say Whichestre, Whichestre-helme, and Whelley, and 
haid ordered theymeself, soo that sundry of the said Lord Buclough's ser- 
vants, who dyd issue fourthe of his gates, was takyn prisoners. They dyc^ 
not leve one house, one stak of come, nor one shyef, without the gate of 
the said Lord Buclough vnbrynt; and thus scrymaged and frayed, sup- 
posing the Lord of Buclough to be within iii or iiii myles to have trayned 
him to the bushment; and soo in the breyking of the day dyd the forrey 
and the bushment mete, and reculed homeward, making their way west- 
M'ard from theyre invasion to be over Lyddersdaill, as intending yf the fray 
frome theyre furst entry by the Scotts waiches, or otherwise by warnying, 
shulde haue bene gyven to Gedworth and the countrey of Scotland theyre- 
abouts of theyre invasion; whiche Gedworth is firom the Wheles Causay vi 
myles, that thereby the Scots shulde have comen further vnto theyme, and 
more out of ordre; and soo upon sundry good considerations, before they 
entered Lyddersdaill, as well accompting the inhabitants of the same to 
be towards your highness, and to enforce theyme the more thereby, as 
alsoo to put an occasion of suspect to the Kinge of Scotts, and his coun- 
saill, to be taken anenst theyme, amonges theymeselves, made proclama- 
cions, commanding, vpon payne of dethe, assurance to be for the said 
inhabitants of Lyddersdaill, without any prejudice or hurt to l)e done by 
any Inglysman vnto theyme, and soo in good ordre abowte the howre of 
ten of the clok before none, vppone Tewisday, dyd pass through the said 
Lyddersdail, when dyd come diverse of the said inhabitants there to my 
servauntes, under the said assurance, offering theymselfs with any service 
they couthe make ; and thus, thanks be to Godde, your highnes' subjects, 
abowte the howre of xii of the clok at none the same daye, came into this 
your highnes realme, l^ringing wt theyme above xl Scottsmen prisoners, 
one of theyme named Scot, of the surname and kyn of the said Lord of 
Buclough, and of his howsehold ; they l)rought also ccc nowte, and above 
Ix horse and marcs, kcping in savctic frome lossc or liurte all your said 
highnes subjects. There nniis alsoo a tow nc, called Newbyggins, by 
diverse fotmen of Tyndaill and Ryddesdaill, lakyn vp k^{ the night, ami 
spoyled, when was slayne ii Scottsmen of the saiil tovvne, ami n\any Sculls 
there hurte; your highnes subjects was xiii myles within the gn>uiulc of 
Scotlande, and is from my house at Werkworthe, above Ix miles of ihc 
most evil jjassngi', wlu-n- ^^rc-at snawes doth lye; heretofore the same 
townes now brynt haith not at any tynu- in tlu" niynd of man in any warrs 
been enlerprised unto nowe; yi)ur subjects were thereto more encouragctl 



176 THE LAY OF 



for the better advancement of your highnes service, the said Lord of 
Buclough beyng always a mortall enemy to this your Graces realme, and 
he dyd say, within xiii days before, he woulde see who durst lye near hvm; 
wt many other cruell words, the knowledge whereof was certainly haid to 
my said servaunts, before theyre enterprice maid \'pon him; most humbly 
beseeching your majest}-, that youre highnes thanks may concur vnto 
theyme, whose names be here inclosed, and to have in your most gracious 
memory, the paynfull and diligent service of my pore ser^-aunte ^Mlarton, 
and thus, as I am most bounden, shall dispose wt them that be under me 
f . . . annoysaunce of your highnes enemys.*' In resentment of this forav, 
Buccleuch, \nth other Border chiefs, assembled an army of 3000 riders, 
with which they penetrated into Northumberland, and laid waste the 
countr}' as far as the banks of Bramish. They baffled, or defeated, the 
English forces opposed to them, and returned loaded with prey. — PiNK- 
ERTON'S History, vol. ii. p. 318. 

Note D. 

Bards long shall tell, 

Hozu Lord Walter fell. — P. ^^, 

Sir Walter Scott of Buccleuch succeeded to his grandfather. Sir Davdd, 
in 1492. He was a brave and powerful baron, and Warden of the West 
Marches of Scotland. His death was the consequence of a feud betwixt 
the Scotts and Kerrs, the history of which is necessan." to explain repeated 
allusions in the romance. 

In the year 1526, in the words of Pitscottie, " the Earl of Augus, and the 
rest of the Douglasses, ruled all which they liked, and no man durst say 
the contrary; wherefore 'the King (James V., then a minor) was heavily 
displeased, and would fain have been out of their hands, if he might by 
any way : And, to that effect, wrote a quiet and secret letter with his own 
hand, and sent it to the Laird of Buccleuch, beseeching him that he would 
come with his kin and friends, and all the force that he might be, and meet 
him at Melross, at his home-passing, and there to take him out of the 
Douglasses hands, and to put him to liberty, to use himself among the lave 
{rest) of his lords, as he thinks expedient. 

"This letter was quietly directed, and sent by one of the King's own 
secret servants, which was received very thankfully by the Laird of Buc- 
cleuch, who was very glad thereof, to be put to such charges and familiarity 
with his prince, and did great diligence to perform the King's writing, and 



THE LAST MINSTREL. 



177 



to bring the matter to pass as the King desired : And, to that effect, con- 
vened ail his kin and friends, and all that would do for him, to ride with 
him to Melioss, when he knew of the King's homecoming. And so he 
brought with him six hundred spears, of Liddesdale, and Annandale, and 
countrymen, and clans thereabout, and held themselves quiet while that 
the King returned out of Jedburgh, and came to Melross, to remain there 
all that night. 

" But when the Lord Hume, Cessfoord, and Fernyherst (the chiefs of 
the clan of Kerr), took their leave of the King, and returned home, then 
appeared the Lord of Buccleuch in sight, and his company with him, in an 
arrayed battle, intending to have fulfilled the King's petition, and therefore 
came stoutly forward on the back side of Haliden hill. By that the Earl 
of Angus, with George Douglas, his brother, and sundry other of his friends, 
seeing this army coming, they marvelled what the matter meant; while at 
last they knew the Laird of Buccleuch, with a certain company of the 
thieves of Annandale. With him they were less affeared, and made them 
manfully to the field contrary them, and said to the King in this manner, 
* Sir, yon is Buccleuch, and thieves of Annandale with him, to unbeset your 
Grace from the gate ' {i.e. interrupt your passage). ' I vow to God they 
shall either fight or flee; and ye shall tarry here on this know, and my 
brother George with you, with any other company you please; and I shall 
pass, and put yon thieves off the ground, and rid the gate unto your Grace, 
or else die for it.' The King tarried still, as was devised; and George 
Douglas with him, and sundry other lords, such as the Earl of Lennox, 
and the Lord Erskine, and sonie of the King's own servants; but all the 
lave {rest) past with the Earl of Angus to the field against the Laird of 
Buccleuch, who joyned and countered cruelly both the said parties in the 
field of Darnelinver,^ either against other, with uncertain victory. But at 
the last the Lord Hume, hearing word of that matter how it stood, returned 
again to the King in all possible haste, with him the Lairds of Cessfoord 
and Fernyhirst, to the number of fourscore spears, and set freshly on the 
lap and wing of the Laird of Buccleuch's field, and shortly bare them back- 
ward to the ground; which caused the Laird of Buccleuch, and the rest of 
his friends, to go back and flee, whom they followed and chased; and 
especially the Lairds of Cessfoord and Fernyhirst followed furiouslie, till at 
the foot of a path the Laird of Cessfoord was slain by the stroke of a spear 

* Darnwick, near Melrose. Tlie |)lace of cijiiUkI is siill called Skinner's FicKI. fn^n .1 
corruption of Ski'rtnish Field. Sec the Minstrelsy of the Sioitish Bonier, vols, 
i. and ii., for further particulars concerning these pl.ices, of all which the author of the 
Lay was ullinialely proprietor. — Eu. 



1/8 



THE LAY OF 



by an Elliot, who was then servant to the Laird of Buccleuch. But when 
the Laird of Cessfoord was slain, the chase ceased. The Earl of Angus 
returned again with great merriness and victory, and thanked God that he 
saved him from that chance, and passed with the King to Melross, where 
they remained all that night. On the morn they past to Edinburgh with 
the King, who was very sad and dolorous of the slaughter of the Laird of 
Cessfoord, and many other gentlemen and yeomen slain by the Laird of 
Buccleuch, containing the number of fourscore and fifteen, which died in 
defence of the King, and at the command of his writing." 

I am not the first who has attempted to celebrate in verse the renown of 
this ancient baron, and his hazardous attempt to procure his sovereign's 
freedom. In a Scottish Latin poet we find the following verses : — 

Valterius Scotus Balcluchius. 

Egregio suscepto facinore, libertate Regis, ac aliis rebus gestis clarus, sub Jacobo 
V. A°. Christi, 1526. 

" Intentata aliis, nullique audita priorum 

Audet, nee pavidum morsve, metusve quatit, 
Libertatem aliis soliti transcribere Regis: 

Subreptam banc Regi restituisse paras : 
Si vincis, quanta o succedunt prsemia dextrse! 

Sin victus, falsas spes jace, pone animam. 
Hostica vis nocuit : stant altse robora mentis 

Atque decus. Vincet, Rege probante, fides. 
Insita quels animis virtus, quosque acrior ardor 

Obsidet, obscuris nox premat an tenebris?" 

Heroes ex omni Historia Scotica, lectissimi, Auctore Johan. Jonstonio Abredonense 
Scoto, 1603. 

In consequence of the battle of Melrose, there ensued a deadly feud be- 
twixt the names of Scott and Kerr, which, in spite of all means used to 
bring about an agreement, raged for many years upon the Borders. Buc- 
cleuch was imprisoned, and his estates forfeited, in the year 1535, for levy- 
ing war against the Kerrs, and restored by act of Parliament, dated 15th 
March, 1542, during the regency of Mary of Lorraine. But the most signal 
act of violence, to which this quarrel gave rise, was the murder of Sir 
Walter himself, who was slain by the Kerrs in the streets of Edinburgh in 
1552. This is the event alluded to in stanza vii. ; and the poem is supposed 
to open shortly after it had taken place. 

The feud between these two families was not reconciled in 1596, when 
both chieftains paraded the streets of Edinburgh with their followers, and it 
was expected their first meeting would decide their quarrel. But, on July 



THE LAST MINSTREL. , ^^ 

14th of the same year, Colvil, in a letter to Mr. Bacon, informs him, " that 
there was great trouble upon the Borders, which would continue till order 
should be taken by the Queen of England and the King, by reason of the 
two young Scots chieftains, Cesford and Baclugh, and of the present neces- 
sity and scarcity of corn amongst the Scots Borderers and riders. That 
there had been a private quarrel betwixt those two lairds on the Borders, 
which was like to have turned to blood; but the fear of the general troul)le 
had reconciled them, and the injuries which they thought to have com- 
mitted against each other were now transferred upon England : not unlike 
that emulation in Prance between the Baron de Biron and Mons. Jeverie, 
who, being both ambitious of honor, undertook more hazardous enterprises 
against the enemy, than they would have done if they had been at concord 
together." — Birch's Memorials^ vol. ii. p. 67. 

Note E. 

Of Bethune's line of Picardie. — P. 41. 

The Bethunes were of French origin, and derived their name from a 
small town in Artois. There were several distinguished families of the 
Bethunes in the neighboring province of Picardy; they numbered among 
their descendants the celebrated Due de Sully; and the name was ac- 
counted among the most noble in France, while aught noble remained in 
that country.^ The family of Bethune, or Beatoun, in Fife, produced three 
learned and dignified prelates; namely, Cardinal Beaton, and two suc- 
cessive Archbishops of Glasgow, all of whom flourished about the date oi 
the romance. Of this family was descended Dame Janet Beaton, Lady 
Buccleuch, widow of Sir Walter Scott of Branksome. She was a woman 
of masculine spirit, as appeared from her riding at the head of her son's 
clan, after her husband's murder. She also possessed the hereditary 
abilities of her family in such a degree, that the superstition of the vul- 
gar imputed them to supernatural knowledge. With this was min^dcd, 
by faction, the foul accusation of her having influenced Queen .Mary to 
the murder of her husband. One of the placards, preserved in lUichanan's 
Detection, accuses of Darnlcy's murder "the Erie of r>oihwcll, Mr. James 
Balfour, the persoun of Fliske,Mr. David Chalmers, black Mr. John Spens, 
who was principal deviser of the murder; and the Queue, assenting thairto, 
throw the persuasion of the l^rlc Bothwell, and the witchcrafi of Lady 
BuckleuchV 

» This expression and sentiment were .iictated by the situ.ition of France, in the year 
1803, when the i)oein was orii^inally written. i8-m. 



l8o THE LAY OF 



Note F. 

The mrwUss forms of air. — P. 42. 

The Scottisli vulgar, without having any very defined notion of their at- 
tributes, believe in the existence of an intermediate class of spirits residing 
in the air, or in the waters; to whose agency they ascribe floods, storms, 
and all such phenomena as their own philosophy cannot readily explain. 
They are supposed to interfere in the affairs of mortals, sometimes with a 
malevolent purpose, and sometimes with milder views. It is said, for ex- 
ample, that a gallant baron, having returned from the Holy Land to his 
castle of Dmmmelziar, found his fair lady nursing a healthy child, whose 
birth did not by any means correspond to the date of his departure. Such 
an occurrence, to the credit of the dames of the Crusaders be it spoken, 
was so rare, that it required a miraculous solution. The lady, therefore, 
was believed, when she averred confidentiy, that the Spirit of the Tweed 
had issued from the river while she was walking upon its bank, and com- 
pelled her to submit to his embraces : and the name of Tweedie was be- 
stowed up>on the child, who afterwards became Baron of Drummelziar, and 
chief of a powerful clan. To those spirits were also ascribed, in Scotland, 

the 

— • Airy tongues, diat syllable mer-'s -^r-.es, 
On sands, and shores, and desen : . i t r r. t s = e; . ' * 

WTien the workmen were engaged in er: ir.^- he ::.::ent church of Old 
Deer, in Aberdeenshire, upon a small hill : . - . I , : . :hey were surprised 
to find that the work was impeded by supematoral obstacles. At length, 
the Spirit of the River was heard to say, 

" It is not here, it is not here, 
That ye shall build the church of Deer; 
But on T«q>tilleiy, 
Where many a corpse shall lie.'' 

The site of the edifice was accordingly transferred to Taptillery, an emi- 
nence at some distance from the place where the building had been com- 
menced. — ^L\cfarlane's J/SS. 1 mention these popular fables, because 
the introduction of the River and Mountain Spirits^ may not, at first sight, 
seem to accord \oth the general tone of the romance, and the superstitions 
of the countrv where the scene is laid. 



THE LAST MINSTREL. 



l8l 



Note G. 



A fancied 77ioss-trooper^ ^c. — P. 44. 



This was the usual appellation of the marauders upon the Borders; a 
profession diligently pursued by the inhabitants on both sides, and by none 
more actively and successfully than by Buccleuch's clan. Long after the 
union of the crowns, the moss-troopers, although sunk in reputation, and 
no longer enjoying the pretext of national hostility, continued to pursue 
their calling. 

Fuller includes among the wonders of Cumberland, " The moss-troopers ; 
so strange in the condition of their living, if considered in their Original^ 
Increase^ Height, Decay, and Ruine. 

" I. Original. I conceive them the same called Borderers in Mr. Cam- 
den; and characterised by him to be a wild and warlike people. They 
are called moss-troopers, because dwelling in the mosses, and riding in 
troops together. They dwell in the bounds, or meeting, of the two king- 
doms, but obey the law^s of neither. They come to church as seldom as 
the 29th of February comes into the kalendar. 

" 2. Increase. When England and Scotland were united in Great Britain, 
they that formerly lived by hostile incursions, betook themselves to the 
robbing of their neighbours. Their sons are free of the trade by their 
fathers' copy. They are like to Job, not in piety and patience, but in sud- 
den plenty and poverty; sometimes having flocks and herds in the morn- 
ing, none at night, and perchance many again next day. They may give 
for their motto, vivitiir ex rapto, steaHng from their honest neighbours 
what they sometimes require. They are a nest of hornets; strike one, and 
stir all of them about your cars. Indeed, if they promise safely to ct)ntluct 
a traveller, they will perform it with the fidelity of a Turkish janizary; 
otherwise, woe be to him that falleth into their quarters I 

" 3. Height. Amounting, forty years since, to some iliousands. Those 
compelled the vicinage to purchase tlieir security, by paying a constant 
rent to them. When in their greatest heiglit, they had two great enemies, 
— the Laws of the Land, and the Lord JVilliam Howard of Xaworth. 
He sent many of them to Carlisle, to that place where the ofticcr doth 
always his work by daylight, ^'et these moss-troopers, if possibly they 
could i^rocure the jxardon for a condemneil perst)n of their company, would 
advance great sums out of their connnon stock, who, in such a case, cast 
i7i their lots a//iongst thcnisch'cs, and all have one purse. 



1 82 TH^ LAY ■?F 

" 4- Decay. Caused by the vrisdom, valour, and diligence of the Right 
Honourable Charles Lord Howard. Earl of Carlisle, who rooted these 
Knglish Tories with his regiment. His severity unto them will not only 
be excused, but commended, by the jndicious, who conader how our great 
lawyer doth describe such persons, who are solemnly outlawed. Bracton, 
lib. viiL trac. 2. cap. ii. — * Kx tunc gerunt caput lupinum^ ita quod sine 
judiciali inquisitiom rite pereant^ et secum suum judicium portent; et 
mcrito sine lege pereunt, qui secundum l^em vrsfero recusdrunti — 
'Thenceforward (after that they are outlawed) they wear a wolf's head, 
so that they lawfully may be destroyed, without any judicial inquisition, as 
who carry their own condemnation about them, and deservedly die with- 
out law, because they refused to live according to law.' 

** 5. Ruine. Such was the success of this worthy lord's severity, that he 
made a thorough reformation among them; and the ringleaders being 
destroyed, the rest are reduced to l^al obedience, and so, I trust, will 
continue." — Fuller's Worthies of En^nd^ p. 216. 

The last public mention of moss-troopers occurs during the civil wars of 
the 17th centur. . ~hcn zii-y ordinances of Parliament were directed 
against them. 

Note H. 

William of Dehraine. — P. 45. 

The lands of Deloraine are joined to those of Buccleuch in Edrick 
Forest, They wctc immemorially possessed by the Buccleuch funily, 
under the strong title of occupancy, although no charter was obtained 
from the crown until 1545. like other possessions, the lands of Deloraine 
were occasionally granted by them to vassals, or kinsmen, for Border ser- 
vice. SatcheUs mentions, among the twenty-four gentlemen-pensioners of 
the family, " William Scott, commonly called Cut-^t-the-Black, who had 
the lands of Nether Deloraine, for his service." And again, "This Wil- 
liam of Deloraine, connnonly called Cut-at-the-Black, was a brother of the 
ancient house of Haining, which house of Haining is descended firom the 
ancient house of Hasendean." The lands of Deloraine now give an 
earFs title to the descendant of Henry, the second surriving son of the 
Duches of Buccleuch and Monmouth. I have endeavored to give Wil- 
liam of Deloraioe the attributes which characterized the Borderers of his 
day; for which I can only plead Froissart's apology, that, "it behoveth, in 
a lynage, some to be folyshe and outrageous, to maynte3rne and sustayne 



L 



THE LAST MINSTREL. 



J83 



the peasahle." As a contrast to my Marchman, I beg leave to transcribe, 
from the same author, the speech of Amergot Marcel 1, a captain of the 
Adventurous Companions, a rfjbber, and a pillager of the country of 
Auvergne, who had been bribed to sell his strongholds, and to assume a 
more honorable military life under the banners of the Earl of Armagnac. 
But "when he remembered alle this, he was sorrowful; his tresour he 
thought he wolde not mynysshe; he was wonte dayly to serche for newe 
pyllages, wherbye encresed his profyte, and then he sawe that alle was 
closed fro' hym. Then he sayde and imagyned, that to pyll and to robbe 
(all thynge considered) was a good lyfe, and so repented hym of his good 
doing. On a tyme, he said to his old companyons, * Sirs, there is no 
sporte nor glory in this worlde amonge men of warre, but to use suche lyfe 
as we have done in tyme past. What a joy was it to us when we rode 
forth at adventure, and somtyme found by the way a riche priour or mer- 
chaunt, or a route of mulettes of Mountpellyer, of Narbonne, of Lymens, 
of Fongans, of Besyers, of Tholous, or of Carcasonne, laden with cloth of 
Brussels, or peltre ware comynge fro the fayres, or laden with spycery fro 
Bruges, fro Damas, or fro Alysaundre; whatsoever we met, all was ours, 
or els ransoumed at our pleasures; dayly we gate new money, and the 
vyllaynes of Auvergne and of Lymosyn dayly provyded and brought to 
our castell whete mele, good wynes, l)effes, and fatte mottons, pullayne, 
and wylde foule : We were ever furnyshed as tho we had been kings. 
When we rode forthe, all the countrey tryml)led for feare : all was ours 
goyng and comyng. IIow tok we Carlast, I and the Bourge of Companye, 
and I and Perot or Bernoys took Caluset; how dyd we scale, with lytell 
ayde, the strong castell of Marquell, pertayning to the Erl Dolphyn : I 
kept it nat past fyve days, but T receyved for it, on a feyre table, fyvc 
thousande frankes, and forgave one thousande for the love of the Krl 
Dolphyn's children. By my fayth, this was a fayrc ami a good lyfe ! 
wherefore I repute myselfe sore deceyved, in that T have rendered up llie 
fortress of Aloys; for it woldc have kci)t fro alle the wtirlde, and the dayc 
that I gave it up, it was fournyshed with vytaylles, to have been kept seven 
yerc without re-vytayllinge. This V.x\ K^{ Armynake hath deceyveil me : 
Olyve Barbe, and Perot le Bernoys, shewed to me how I shuKle rcpcntc 
myselfe: certayne I sore rei)ente mysclfr of what T have done.' " — I''k«.>is- 
SART, vol. ii. J). 195. 



1 84 



THE LAY OF 



Note I. 

By wily turns^ by despei'ate bounds, 

Had baffled Percy^s best blood-hounds. — P. 45. 

The kings and heroes of Scotland, as well as the Border-riders, were 
sometimes obliged to study how to evade the pursuit of blood-hounds. 
Barbour informs us, that Robert Bruce was repeatedly tracked by sleuth- 
dogs. On one occasion, he escaped by wading a bow-shot down a brook, 
and ascending into a tree by a branch which overhung the water; thus 
leaving no trace on land of his footsteps, he baffled the scent. The pur- 
suers came up : — 

*' Rycht to the burn thai passyt ware, 
Bot the sleuth-hund made stinting thar, 
And waueryt lang tyme ta and fra, 
That he na certain gate couth ga; 
Till at the last that John of Lome 
Perseuvit the hund the sleuth had lorne." 

The Bruce, Book vii. 

A sure way of stopping the dog was to spill blood upon the track, which 
destroyed the discriminating fineness of his scent. A captive was some- 
times sacrificed on such occasions. Henry the Minstrel tells a romantic 
story of Wallace, founded on this circumstance : — The hero's little band 
had been joined by an Irishman, named Fawdoun, or Fadzean, a dark, 
savage, and suspicious character. After a sharp skirmish at Black-Erne 
Side, Wallace was forced to retreat with only sixteen foUow^ers. The 
English pursued with a Border sleiith-bratch, or blood-hound. 

** In Gelderland there was that bratchet bred, 
Siker of scent, to follow them that fled; 
So was he used in Eske and Liddesdail, 
While (i.e., tilT) she gat blood no fleeing might avail." 

In the retreat, Fawdoun, tired, or affecting to be so, would go no 
farther. Wallace, having in vain argued with him, in hasty anger struck 
off his head, and continued the retreat. AMien the English came up, their 
hound stayed upon the dead body : — 

" The sleuth stopped at Fawdon, still she stood, 
Nor farther would fra time she fund the blood." 

The story concludes with a fine Gothic scene of terror. Wallace took 
refuge in the solitary tower of Cask. Here he was disturbed at midnight 



THE LAST MINSTREL. 



185 



by the blast of a horn. He sent out his attendants by two and two, but no 
one returned with tidings. At length, when he was left alone, the sound 
was heard still louder. The champion descended, sword in hand, and, at 
the gate of the tower, was encountered by the headless spectre of Faw- 
doun, whom he had slain so rashly. Wallace, in great terror, fled up into 
the tower, tore open the boards of a window, leapt down fifteen feet in 
height, and continued his flight up the river. Looking back to Gask, he 
discovered the tower on fire, and the form of Fawdoun upon the battle- 
ments, dilated to an immense size, and holding in his hand a blazing rafter. 
The Minstrel concludes, 

*' Trust ryght wele, that all this be sooth indeed, 
Supposing it be no point of the creed." 

The WallacCy Book v. 

Mr. Ellis has extracted this tale as a sample of Henry's poetry. — Spfci- 
mens of English Poetry, vol. i. p. 351. 

Note K. 

Oil Minto-crags the moo7i-beams glint. — P. 48. 

A romantic assemblage of cliffs, which rise suddenly above the vale of 
Teviot, in the immediate vicinity of the family-seat, from which Lord 
Minto takes his title. A small platform, on a projecting crag, command- 
ing a most beautiful prospect, is termed Barnhills' Bed. This Barnhills is 
said to have been a robber, or outlaw. There are remains of a strong 
tower beneath the rocks, where he is supposed to have dwelt, and from 
which he derived his name. On the summit of the crags are the frag- 
ments of another ancient tower, in a picturesque situation. Among the 
houses cast down by the Earl of Hartforde, in 1545, occur the lowers of 
Easter Barnhills, and of Minto-crag, with Minto town and pln:e. Sir 
Gilbert Elliot, father to the present Lord Minto,* was the author of a be.\u- 
tiful pastoral song, of which the following is a more correct copy tli.m is 
usually published. The poetical mantle of Sir Gilbert Elliot has descended 
to his family. 

" My sliccp I ncftlcclcd, I bri)kc my shccp-hook, 
And all the gay haunts of my yv)ulh I forsook: 
No more for Amynta fresh garlands 1 wove: 
Ambition, 1 said, would soon cure mc of love. 
But what had my youth with ambition to do! 
Why left I Aiuyiua! why broke 1 my vow! 

' Grandfather to the present K.ul. i8ig. 



l86 THE LAY OF 



' Through regions remote in vain do I rove, 
And bid the wide world secure me from love. 
Ah, fool, to imagine, that aught could subdue 
A love so well founded, a passion so true ! 
Ah, give me my sheep, and my sheep-hook restore ! 
And I'll wander from love and Amynta no more ! 

* Alas ! 'tis too late at thy fate to repine ! 
Poor shepherd, Amynta no more can be thine ! 
Thy tears are all fruitless, thy wishes are vain, 
The moments neglected return not again. 
Ah ! what had my youth with ambition to do ! 
Why left I Amynta ! why broke I my vow ! " 



Note L. 

Ancient RiddelV s Fai?^ Domain. — P. 49. 

The family of Riddell have been very long in possession of the barony 
called Riddell, or Ryedale, part of which still bears the latter name. Tra- 
dition carries their antiquity to a point extremely remote; and is, in some 
degree, sanctioned by the discovery of two stone coffins, one containing an 
earthen pot filled with ashes and arms, bearing a legible date, A.D. 727; 
the other dated 936, and filled with the bones of a man of gigantic size. 
These coffins were discovered in the foundations of what was, but has long 
ceased to be, the chapel of Riddell; and as it was argued, with plausibility, 
that they contained the remains of some ancestors of the family, they were 
deposited in the modern place of sepulture, comparatively so termed, though 
built in mo. But the following curious and authentic documents warrant 
most conclusively the epithet of " ancient Riddell " : ist, A charter by Da- 
vid I. to Walter Rydale, Sheriff of Roxburgh, confirming all the estates of 
Liliesclive, &c., of which his father, Gervasius de Rydale died possessed. 
2dly, A bull of Pope Adrian IV., confirming the will of Walter de Ridale, 
knight, in favor of his brother Anschittil de Ridale, dated 8th April 1155. 
3dly, A bull of Pope Alexander III., confirming the said will of Walter de 
Ridale, bequeathing to his brother Anschittil the lands of Liliesclive, 
Whettunes, &c., and ratifying the bargain betwixt Anschittil and Huctre- 
dus, concerning the church of Liliesclive, in consequence of the mediation 
of Malcolm II., and confirmed by a charter from that monarch. This bull 
is dated 17th June 11 60. 4thly, A bull of the same Pope, confirming the 
will of Sir Anschittil de Ridale, in favor of his son Walter, conveying the 
said lands of Liliesclive and others, dated loth ]March 1120. It is remark- 



THE LAST MINSTREL. 



187 



able that Liliesclive, otherwise Rydale, or Riddell, and the Whittunes, have 
descended, through a long train of ancestors, without ever passing into a 
collateral line, to the person of Sir John Buchanan Riddell, Bart, of Riddel, 
the lineal descendant and representative of Sir Anschittil. — These cir- 
cumstances appeared worthy of notice in a Border work.^ 



Note M. 

So had he seen, in fair Castile, 

The youth in glittering squadrons start ; 

Sudden the fly i7ig jennet loheel, 

And hurl the unexpected dart. — P. 56. 

" By my faith," sayd the Duke of Lancaster, (to a Portuguese squire,) 
" of all the feates of armes that the Castellyans, and they of your countrey 
doth use, the castynge of their dertes best pleaseth me, and gladly I wolde 
se it : for, as I hear say, if tliey strike one aryghte, without he be well 
armed, the dart will pierce him thrughe." — " By my fayth, sir," sayd the 
squyer, "ye say trouth; for I have seen many a grete stroke given with 
them, which at one time cost us derely, and was to us great displeasure; 
for, at the said skyrmishe. Sir John Laurence of Coygne was striken with a 
dart in such wise, that the head perced all the plates of his cote of mayle, 
and a sacke stopped with sylke, and passed thrughe his body, so that he 
fell down dead." — Froissart, vol. ii. ch. 44. — This mode of lighting with 
darts was imitated in the military game called Jeugo dc las eanas, which 
the Spaniards l^orrowed from their ^Moorish invaders. A Saracen cham- 
pion is thus described by Froissart : — " Among the Sarazyns, there was a 
yonge knight called Agadinger Dolyfcrne; lie was always wel mounted du 
a redy and a lyght horse; it seemed, when the horse ranne, that he did tly 
in the ayre. The knighte seemed to be a good man of armes by his dctics; 
he bare always of usage three fethered dartes, and rychte well he could 
handle them; and, according io their custonie, he was dene armed, with a 
long white towell about his head. His apparell was blncke, and his own 
colour browne, and a good horseman. 'V\\v ("ry>tcn men s.iy, they thoughtc 
he dyd such deeds of armes for the love i)f some yonge hulye of his countrey. 
And true it was, that he loved entirely the King of Thune's daughter, named 
the Lady A/.ala; she was inherytour to the realme of Thune, after the dis- 
cease of the kyng, her father. This .Vgadinger was sone to the Duke of 

' [.Since the .ihovc note was wiiiicn, llic uncicnt family of Riddell have parted with oU 
their Scotch estates. — lu).] 



l88 THE LAY OF 



Olyferne. I can nat telle if they were married together after or nat; but 
it was shewed me, that this knyght, for love of the sayd ladye, during the 
siege, did many feates of armes. The knyghtes of France wold fayne have 
taken hym; but they colde never attrape nor inclose him; his horse was so 
swyft, and so redy to his hand, that alwaies he escaped." — Vol. ii. ch. 71. 

Note N. 

Dark Knight of Liddesdale. — P. 57. 

William Douglas, called the Knight of Liddesdale, flourished during the 
reign of David IT, and was so distinguished by his valor, that he was called 
the Flower of Chivalry. Nevertheless, he tarnished his renown by the 
cruel murder of Sir Alexander Ramsay of Dalhousie, originally his friend 
and brother in arms. The King had conferred upon Ramsay the sheriff- 
dom of Teviotdale, to which Douglas pretended some claim. In revenge 
of this preference, the Knight of Liddesdale came down upon Ramsay 
while he was administering justice at Hawick, seized and carried him off 
to his remote and inaccessible castle of Hermitage, where he threw his 
unfortunate prisoner, horse and man, into a dungeon, and left him to perish 
of hunger. ' It is said, the miserable captive prolonged his existence for 
several days by the corn which fell from a granary above the vault in which 
he was confined.' So weak was the royal authority, that David, although 
highly incensed at this atrocious murder, found himself obliged to appoint 
the Knight of Liddesdale successor to his victim, as Sheriff of Teviotdale. 
But he was soon after slain, while hunting in Ettrick Forest, by his own 
godson and chieftain, William, Earl of Douglas, in revenge, according to 

1 There is something afTecting in the manner in which the old Prior of Lochleven turns 
from describing the death of the gallant Ramsay, to the general sorrow which it excited: — 
** To tell you there of the manere, 

It is bot sorrow for til here ; 

He wes the grettast menyd man 

That ony cowth have thowcht of than. 

Of his state, or of mare be fare; 

All menyt him, bath bettyr and war; 

The ryche and pure him menyde bath, 

For of his dede was mekil skath." 
Some years ago, a person digging for stones, about the old castle of Hermitage, broke 
into a vault containing a quantity of chaff, some bones, and pieces of iron; amongst others, 
the curb of an ancient bridle, which the author has since given to the Earl of Dalhousie, 
under the impression that it possibly may be a relic of his brave ancestor. The worthy 
clergyman of the parish has mentioned this discovery in his Statistical Account of Castle- 
town. 



THE LAST MINSTREL, 



189 



some authors, of Ramsay's murder; although a popular tradition, preserved 
in a ballad quoted by Godscroft, and some parts of which are still preserved, 
ascribes the resentment of the Earl to jealousy. The place where the Knight 
of Liddesdale was killed, is called, from his name, William-Cross, upon 
the ridge of a hill called William-Hope, betwixt Tweed and Yarrow. His 
body, according to Godscroft, was carried to Lindean church the first night 
after his death, and thence to Melrose, where he was interred with great 
pomp, and where his tomb is still shown. 



Note O. 

The 7uondrous Michael Scott. — P. 58. 

Sir Michael Scott of Balwearie flourished during the 13th century, and 
was one of the ambassadors sent to bring the Maid of Norway to Scotland 
upon the death of Alexander III. By a poetical anachronism, he is here 
placed in a later era. He was a man of much learning, chiefly acquired 
in foreign countries. He wrote a commentary upon Aristotle, printed at 
Venice in 1496; and several treatises upon natural philosophy, from which 
he appears to have been addicted to the abstruse studies of judicial astrolog)', 
alchymy, physiognomy, and chiromancy. Hence he passed among his con- 
temporaries for a skilful magician. Dempster informs us that he remem- 
bers to have heard in his youth, that the magic books of Michael Scott 
were still in existence, but could not be opened without danger on account 
of the malignant fiends who were thereby invoked. Dempsteri Historia 
Ecclesiastica^ 1627, lib. xii. p. 495. Lesly characterises Michael Scott as 
^^ singiilarie philosophicCy astronomicc, ac viedicituc laude prestans ; diceba- 
tur penitissitnos inagice recesstis indngdsse.^^ Dante also mentions him as 
a renowned wizard : — 

** Queir ahro che ne' fianchi 6 cosi poco, 
Michcle Scotto fu, che veramente 
Dcllc magichc frodc seppc il giuoco." 

htfcrnoy Canto xxmo. 

A personage thus spoken of by biographers and historians, loses little of 
his mystical fame in vulgar tradition. Accordingly, the memory of Sir 
Michael Scott survives in many a legcml; and in the south of Scotland, 
any work of great labor and antitiuity is ascribed cither to the agency of 
Auld Michael, of Sir William Wallace, or of the devil. Tradition varies 
concerning the place of his burial; some contend for Home Coltramc, in 
Cunil)t'rl;iu(l; others for Mchosc Abl)cv. Ihil all at^rcc that his books of 



igo THE LAY OF 



magic were interred in his grave, or preserved in the convent where he 
died. Satchells, wishing to give some authority for his accomit of the 
origin of the name of Scott, pretends, that, in 1629, he chanced to be at 
Burgh under Bownes, in Cumberland, where a person, named Lancelot 
Scott, showed him an extract from Michael Scott's works, containing that 

story : — 

' ' He said the book which he gave me 
Was of Sir Michael Scott's historic; 
Which history was never yet read through, 
Nor never will, for no man dare it do. 
Young scholars have pick'd out something 
From the contents, that dare not read within. 
He carried me along the castle then. 
And shew'd his written book hanging on an iron pin. 
His writing pen did seem to me to be 
Of hardened metal, like steel, or accumie; 
The volume of it did seem so large to me. 
As the Book of Martyrs and Turks' historic. 
Then in the church he let me see 
A stone where Mr. Michael Scott did lie; 
I asked at him how that could appear, 
Mr. Michael had been dead above five hundred year. 
He shew'd me none durst bury under that stone, 
More than he had been dead a few years agone ; 
For Mr. Michael's name does terrifie each one." 

History of the Right Hojiour able 7iame ^ Scott. 

Note P. 

Salamanca's cave. — P. 58. 

Spain, from the relics, doubtless, of Arabian learning and superstition, 
was accounted a favorite residence of magicians. Pope Sylvester, who 
actually imported from Spain the use of the Arabian numerals, was sup- 
posed to have learned there the magic, for which he was stigmatized by the 
ignorance of his age. — William of AIal?nsbii7y, lib. ii., cap. 10. There 
were public schools, where magic, or rather the sciences supposed to in- 
volve its mysteries, were regularly taught, at Toledo, Seville, and Sala- 
manca. In the latter city, they were held in a deep cavern; the mouth of 
which was walled up by Queen Isabella, wife of King Ferdinand. — D'Au- 
TON 07t Learned Incredulity, p. 45. These Spanish schools of magic are 
celebrated also by the Italian poets of romance : — 

" Questo cltta di Tolleto solea 
Tenere studio di negromanzia, 
Quivi di magica arte si leggea 



THE LAST MINSTREL. i q j 



Pubblicamente, e di peromanzia; 

E molti geomanti sempre avea, 

Esperimenti assai d' idromanzia 

E d' altre false opinion' di siocchi 

Come e fatture, o spesso batter gli occhi." 

II Morgatite Maggiore, Canto xxv. St. 259. 

The celebrated magician Maugis, cousin to Rinaldo of Montalban, 
called, by Ariosto, Malagigi, studied the black art at Toledo, as we learn 
from DHistoire de Maugis U Aygreinont, He even held a professor's 
chair in the necromantic university; for so I interpret the passage, " qu^on 
tons les sept ai's d''encha7iteineiit, des cha?'??ies et cottjuratiojiSy il ny avoit 
vieillieur maistre que lui ; et en tel renom qti'on le laissoit en chaise^ ct 
l^appelloit on maistre Maugis P This Salamancan Domdaniel is said to 
have been founded by Hercules. If the classic reader enquires where 
Hercules himself learned magic, he may consult " Les faicts et procsscs dii 
noble et vaillaitt IIe7'cules^^ where he will learn that the fable of his aid- 
ing Atlas to support the heavens arose from the said Atlas having taught 
Hercules, the noble 7iight-e7n'ant, the seven liberal sciences, and in par- 
ticular, that of judicial astrology. Such, according to the idea of the mid- 
dle ages, were the studies, ^^ 7?iaxij?ius qtuc docuit Atlas^ — In a romantic 
history of Roderic, the last Gothic King of Spain, he is said to have entered 
one of those enchanted caverns. It was situated beneath an ancient tow cr 
near Toledo; and when the iron gates, which secured the entrance, were 
unfolded, there rushed forth so dreadful a whirlwind, that hitherto no one 
had dared to penetrate into its recesses. But Roderic, threatened with an 
invasion of the Moors, resolved to enter the cavern, where he expected to 
find some prophetic intimation of the event of the war. Accordingly, his 
train being furnished with torches, so artificially composed that the tempest 
could not extinguish them, the King, with great difficulty, penetrated into 
a square hall, inscribed all over with Arabian characters. In the midst 
stood a colossal statue of ])rass, representing a Saracen wielding a Moorish 
mace, with which it discharged furious blows on all sides, and seemed thus 
to excite the tempest which raged around. Being conjured by Roderic, it 
ceased from striking, until he read, inscribed on the riglit hand, ** Jfrr/t/ifd 
Aro7ia7'ch,fo7' thy €7)11 hast thou come hithe7''" ; on the left hand,** Thou 
shalt be dispossessed by a st}-ange people'' : on one slioulder, " / invoke the 
sons of Jlagar''; on the other, '' f do mine "///-v." When the King had 
deciphered these ominous inscriptions, (lie slatiu* returned to its exercise, 
the temi^L'st commenced anew, and Roderie n-tind, to mourn over the pre- 
dicted evils which approached his tlirone. lie e.msed the ^jalcs of the 



192 



THE LAY OF 



cavern to be locked and barricaded; but, in the course of the night the 
tower fell with a tremendous noise, and under its ruins concealed for ever 
the entrance to the mystic cavern. The conquest of Spain by the Sara- 
cens, and the death of the unfortunate Don Roderic, fulfilled the prophecy 
of the brazen statue. Historia verdadera del Rey Don Rodrigo por el 
sabio Alcayde Abulcacim, traduzeda de la lengua Arabiga por Miguel de 
Luna, 1645, ^^P- ^^' 

Note Q. 

The bells would ring in Notre- Dame. — P. 58. 

" Tantamne rem tarn negligenter ? " says Tyrwhitt, of his predecessor, 
Speight, who, in his commentary on Chaucer, had omitted, as trivial and 
fabulous, the story of Wade and his boat Guingelot, to the great prejudice 
of posterity, the memory of the hero and the boat being now entirely lost. 
That future antiquaries may lay no such omission to my charge, I have 
noted one or two of the most current traditions concerning Michael Scott. 
He was chosen, it was said, to go upon an embassy, to obtain from the 
King of France satisfaction for certain piracies committed by his subjects 
upon those of Scotland. Instead of preparing a new equipage and splen- 
did retinue, the ambassador retreated to his study, opened his book, and 
evoked a fiend in the shape of a huge black horse, mounted upon his back, 
and forced him to fly through the air towards France. As they crossed the 
sea, the devil insidiously asked his rider. What it was that the old women 
of Scotland muttered at bed-time? A less experienced wizard might have 
answered that it was the Pater Noster, which would have licensed the devil 
to precipitate him from his back. But Michael sternly replied, " What is 
that to thee? — Mount, Diabolus, and fly ! " When he arrived at Paris, he 
tied his horse to the gate of the palace, entered, and boldly delivered his 
message. An ambassador, with so little of the pomp and circumstance of 
diplomacy, was not received with much respect, and the King was about 
to return a contemptuous refusal to his demand, when Michael besought 
him to suspend his resolution till he had seen his horse stamp three times. 
The first stamp shook every steeple in Paris, and caused all the bells to 
ring; the second threw down three of the towers of the palace; and the 
infernal steed had lifted his hoof to give the third stamp, when the King 
rather chose to dismiss Michael, with the most ample concessions, than to 
stand to the probable consequences. Another time it is said, that, when 
residing at the Tower of Oakwood, upon the Ettrick, about three miles 



THE LAST MINSTREL. j Q3 



above Selkirk, he h*eard of the fame of a sorceress, called the Witch of 
P'alsehope, who lived on the opposite side of the river. Michael went one 
morning to put her skill to the test, but was disappointed, by her denying 
positively any knowledge of the necromantic art. In his discourse with 
her, he laid his wand inadvertently on the table, which the hag observing, 
suddenly snatched it up, and struck him with it. Feeling the force of the 
charm, he rushed out of the house; but as it had conferred on him the 
external appearance of a hare, his servant, who waited without, halloo'd 
upon the discomfited wizard his own greyhounds, and pursued him so close, 
that in order to obtain a moment's breathing to reverse the charm, Mi- 
chael, after a very fatiguing course, was fain to take refuge in his own 
jawJiole (^Anglice, common sewer). In order to revenge himself of the 
Witch of Falsehope, Michael, one morning in the ensuing harvest, went to 
the hill above the house with his dogs, and sent down his servant to ask a 
bit of bread from the goodwife for his greyhounds, with instructions what 
to do if he met with a denial. Accordingly, when the witch had refused 
the boon with contumely, the servant, as his master had directed, laid 
above the door a paper which he had given him, containing, amongst 
many cabalistical words, the well-known rhyme, — 

" Maister Michael Scott's man 
Sought meat, and gat nane." 

Immediately the good old woman, instead of pursuing her domestic 
occupation, which was baking bread for the reapers, began to dance round 
the fire repeating the rhyme, and continued this exercise till her husband 
sent the reapers to the house, one after another, to see what had delayed 
their provision; but the charm caught each as they entered, and, losing all 
idea of returning, they joined in the dance and chorus. At length the old 
man himself went to the house; but as his wife's frolic with Mr. Michael, 
whom he had seen on the hill, made him a little cautious, he contented 
himself with looking in at the window, and saw the reapers at their invi)l- 
untary exercise, dragging his wife, now completely exhausted, sometimes 
round, and sometimes through the lire, which was, as usual, in the midst 
of the house. Instead of entering, he saddled a horse, and roile up the 
hill, to humble himself before Michael, and beg a cessation of the spell; 
which the good-natured warlock iinnu'diatoly granted, directing him to 
enter the house backwards, and, with his left hanJ. lake the spell from 
above the door ; which accordingly ended the supernatural dance. — This 
talc was told less particularly in former editions, and 1 have been ccnsvircd 



I 



194 



THE LAY OF 



for inaccuracy in doing so. — A similar charm occurs in Huon de Bour- 
deaux, and in the ingenious Oriental tale, called the Caliph Vathek. 

Notwithstanding his victory over the AYitch of Falsehope, ^lichael Scott, 
like his predecessor Merlin, fell at last a victim to female art. His wife, 
or concubine, elicited from him the secret, that his art could ward off any 
danger except the poisonous qualities of broth, made of the flesh of a breme 
sow. Such a mess she accordingly administered to the wizard, who died 
in consequence of eating it; survi\dng, however, long enough to put to 
death his treacherous confidant. 

Note R. 

That lamp shall burn 2inqnenchably, 
Until the eter^ial dooin shall be. — P. 6o. 

Baptista Porta, and other authors who treat of natural magic, talk much 
of eternal lamps, pretended to have been found burning in ancient sepul- 
chres. Fortunius Licetus investigates the subject in a treatise, De Lucemis 
Antiqiiorwn Reconditis^ published at Venice, 1 621. One of these perpet- 
ual lamps is said to have been discovered in the tomb of TuUiola, the 
daughter of Cicero. The wick was supposed to be composed of asbestos. 
Kircher enumerates three different recipes for constructing such lamps; 
and wisely concludes that the thing is nevertheless impossible. — Mim- 
dus Stibterranezis, p. 72. Delrio imputes the fabrication of such hghts to 
magical skill. — Disqiiisitiones Magical, p. 58. In a very rare romance, 
which '^ treateth of the life of Virgilius, and of his deth, and many mar- 
vayles that he dyd in his lyfe-tyme, by \v}xhecrafte and nygramancye, 
throughe the helpe of the devyls of hell," mention is made of a very extra- 
ordinary process, in which one of these mystical lamps was employed. It 
seems that Virgil, as he advanced in years, became desirous of renovating 
his youth by magical art. For this purpose he constructed a solitary 
tower, having only one narrow portal, in which he placed tsventy-four 
copper figures, armed with iron flails, twelve on each side of the porch. 
These enchanted statues struck with their flails incessantly, and rendered 
all entrance impossible, unless when Virgil touched the spring which 
stopped their motion. To this tower he repaired privately, attended by one 
trusty servant, to whom he communicated the secret of the entrance, and 
hither they conveyed all the magician's treasure. " Then sayde Virgilius, 
my dere beloved frende, and he that I above alle men truste and knowe 
raooste of my secret"; and then he led the man into a cellar, where he 



THE LAST MINSTREL. i g^ 



made 2^ faye7' lamp at all seasotts burnynge. "And then sayd Virgilius to 
the man, * Se you the barrel that standeth here ? ' and he sayd, yea : 
'Therein must thou put me: fyrst ye must slee me, and hewe me smalle to 
pieces, and cut my hed in iiii pieces, and salte the heed under in the bot- 
tom, and then the pieces there after, and my herte in the myddel, and 
then set the barrel under the lampe, that nyghte and day the fat therein 
may droppe and leake; and ye shall ix days long, ones in the day, fyll the 
lampe, and fayle nat. And when this is all done, then shall I be renued, 
and made yonge agen. ' " At this extraordinary proposal, the confidant 
was sore abashed, and made some scruple of obeying his master's com- 
mands. At length, however, he complied, and Virgil was slain, pickled, 
and barrelled up, in all respects according to his own direction. The ser- 
vant then left the tower, taking care to put the copper thrashers in motion 
at his departure. He continued daily to visit the tower with the same 
precaution. Meanwhile, the emperor, with whom Virgil was a great 
favorite, missed him from the court, and demanded of his servant where he 
was. The domestic pretended ignorance, till the emperor threatened him 
with death, when at length he conveyed him to the enchanted tower. 
The same threat extorted a discovery of the mode of stopping the statues 
from wielding their flails. " And then the emperour entered into the castle 
with all his folke, and sought all aboute in every corner after Virgilius; and 
at laste they soughte so longe, that they came into the seller, where they 
sawe the lampe hang over the barrell where Virgilius lay in deed. Then 
asked the emperour the man, who had made hym so herdy to put his mays- 
ter Virgilius so to dethe ; and the man answered no worde to the emperour. 
And then the emperour, with great anger, drewe out his sworde, and slewe 
he there Virgilius' man. And when all this was done, then sawe the 
emperour, and all his folke, a naked child iii tymes rennynge about the 
barrel, saynge these wordes, * Cursed be the tyme that ye ever came here.' 
And with those words vanyshed the chylde awaye, and was never senc 
ageyn; and thus abyd Virgilius in the barrel deed." — Virgilius, bl. let., 
printed at Antwerpe by John Doesborcke. This curious volume is in the 
valuable library of Mr. Douce; and is supposed to be a translation from 
the French, printed in Flanders for the English market. See Goujet 
Biblioth. Franc, ix. 225. Catalogue de la Bibliotkciiue XationaU^ lorn. ii. 
p. 5. De Burcy No. 3857. ^ 



r 



[96 



\ : 



L of Lofd riaiffslmni''s GoUm Page 

ner, it^ao af i pe ai cd, and made so- 

-— -^ Timtams^ A gentleman ai tfii: 

rnlais concc fwiwg 1»H appeaiaii : 

—^ ai least most probable 

fnoni an old man, c^ tt e 

life at Toddiav4£ 

rd 53aid forsone : 

tn it was gnwn: 

^ ait of the- 

irom travt 



P. 67. 
from a bei": 



eared- It 

~ > As 

right. 



isaidl,'7%a/iraft/ 
• ^ _ . • cx heard of mace, 
he had often heard his lathe 
there at the time, speak abc 



THE LAST MINSTREL. 1^7 

heard it mentioned, and never met with any who had the remotest doubt as 
to the truth of the story; although, I must own, I cannot help thinking 
there must be some misrepresentation in it." — To this account, I have to 
add the following particulars from the most respectable authority. Besides 
constantly repeating the word tint ! tint ! Gilpin Horner was often heard to 
call upon Peter Bertram, or Be-te-ram, as he pronounced the word; and 
when the shrill voice called Gilpin Horner, he immediately acknowledged 
it was the summons of the said Peter Bertram, who seems therefore to 
have been the devil who had tint, or lost, the little imp. As much has 
been objected to Gilpin Horner on account of his being supposed rather a 
device of the author than a popular superstition, I can only say, that no 
legend which I ever heard seemed to be more universally credited, 
and that many persons of very good rank and considerable information are 
well known to repose absolute faith in the tradition. 

Note T. 

But the Ladye of Branksoine gathe7''^d a band 

Of the best that would ride at her command. — P. 68. 

"Upon 25th June, 1557, Dame Janet Beatoune, Lady Buccleuch, and 
a great number of the name of Scott, delaitit (accused) for coming to the 
kirk of St. Mary of the Lowes, to the number of two hundred persons 
bodin in feire of weire (arrayed in armor) and breaking open the door 
of the said kirk, in order to apprehend the Laird of Cranstoune for his 
destruction." On the 20th July a warrant from the Queen is presented, 
discharging the justice to proceed against the Lady Buccleuch while new 
calling. — Abridge7nent of Books of Adjournal^ in Advocates' Library. — 
The following proceedings upon this case appear on the record of the 
Court of Justiciary: On the 25th of June, 1557, Robert Scott in Bowhill 
parish, priest of the Kirk of St. Mary's, accused of the convocation of the 
Queen's lieges, to the number of 200 persons, in warlike array, with jacks, 
helmets, and other weapons, and marching to the chapel of St. Mary of 
the Lowes for the slaughter of Sir Peter Cranstoun, out of ancient feud 
and malice prepense, and of breaking the doors of the said kirk, is rc- 
pledged by the Arch])ishop of Glasgow. The bail given by Robert Scott 
of AUanhaugh, Adam Scott of Burnfute, Robert Sct)tt in Ilowfurde, WaUcr 
Scott in Todshawhaugh, Waller Scott younger of Synton, Ihomas Scoll 
of Hayning, Robert Scott, William Scott, and James Scott, brothers of the 
said Wahcr Scott, Waller Soil in the Woll, an»l Walter Scott, son of Wil- 



I9S 



LAV or 



Ham Scoit of Harden, sand Jsumes Wemj'ss in Eckford, aH accused of the 
same crinie, is dedaied to be fcnf eiied. On the same day, Walter Scott 
<^ Sjnton, and Walter Oushofane of Chidicdme, and William Scott of 
Harden, became boond, jcnntij and sereially, that Sir Peter Cranstoon, 
and hk kindred and servants, should leoeire no injury finom them in future. 
At the same time, Patrick Mnrr^ of Fallohfll, Alexander Stnazf, nnde to 
the Land of Trakwhare, John Mmray of Nevdiall, J6kak Fairlye, residing 
in Selkirk, Geoige Tait, younger of Pirn, John Pennycnke of Pennycuke, 
James Ramsay of Gockpen, the Laird of Fassjde, and the Laird of Uen- 
derstoune, were all severalty fined for not attending as jurors; being probably 
either in alliance with the accused parties, or dreading their Tcngeance, 
Upcm the 20lh of Juty following, Scott of Synton, Oudiolme of Chkholme, 
Scott of Harden, Scott of Howpadie, Scott oi Bumfnte, with many others, 
are ordered to appear at next calliog, under the pains of treason. But no 
farther procedure seems to have taken place. It is said, that, upon this 
rising, the Kirk of St. Mary was burnt by the Scotls. 

X:rz U. 

AH was delusum^ now^kt seas trtdk. — P. 75. 

Glam&mr, in the legends of Scottish supeiiitilion, means the magic power 
of imposing on the eyesig^ of the spectatxHS, so that the a^iearance of an 
oliject shall be totallf diSerent from the reality. The transformation of 
Michael Scott by the witch of Falsehope, aheadf mentioned, was a genuine 
operatiaoL of glamour. Xo a familar charm the KaH^d c^ Johnny Fa^ im- 
putes the fascination of the loTety Countess, wiio eloped with that g^isy 
leader: — 

'^ Sae soon as diey saw her wed^tf'd &oe, 
Hiey cast dbe g^Mm^mr o'er her." 

It was foimedy iKcd even in war. In 1381, idien the Duke of Aiqoa 
lay brfore a strong castle, jo^hstl the cxnaA of Naples, a necromancer offered 
to " make the ayre so diycke, that they within shall diynke that there is a 
great bridge on die see (by which the casde was surrounded) for ten men 
to go a finmt; and whan th^ widun the castle se ths bridge, they will 
be so afr^de, that they shall yelde them to your mercy. The Duke de- 
manded, — ' Fa3nre J^Iaster, on this bridge that ye ^>^e <^ may our pec^le 
assuredly go thereon to the castdlto ass^leit?' — 'Syr,' quod the enchan- 
tour, ' I dare not assure you that; for if any that passeth cm die bridge 
make the s^ne of the crosse on l^m, all shall go to noug^ite, and they 



THE LAST MINSTREL, igg 

that be on the bridge shall fall into the see.' Then the Duke began to 
laugh; and a certain of young knightes, that were there present, said, 
* Syr, for godsake, let the mayster assey his cunning : we shal leve making 
of any signe of the crosse on us for that tyme.' " The Earl of Savoy, 
shortly after, entered the tent, and recognized in the enchanter the same 
person who had put the castle into the power of Sir Charles de la Payx, 
who then held it, by persuading the garrison of the Queen of Naples, 
through magical deception, that the sea was coming over the walls. The 
sage avowed the feat, and added, that he was the man in the world most 
dreaded by Sir Charles de la Payx. " * By my fayth,' quod the Earl of 
Savoy, *ye say well; and I will that Syr Charles de la Payx shall know 
that he hath gret wronge to fear you. But I shall assure hym of you; for 
ye shall never do enchantment to deceyve hym, nor yet none other. I 
wolde nat that in tyme to come we shulde be reproached that in so high 
an enterprise as we be in, wherein there be so many noble knyghtes and 
squyres assembled, that we shulde do any thyng be enchantment, nor that 
we shulde wyn our enemys be suche crafte.' Then he called to him a ser- 
vaunt, and said, ' Go and get a hangman, and let him stryke of this may- 
ster's heed without delay;' and as soone as the Erie had commanded it, 
incontynent it was done, for his heed was stryken of before the Erie's 
tent." — Froissart, vol. i. ch. 391, 392. 

The art of glamour, or other fascination, was anciently a principal part 
of the skill of the joiigletir, or juggler, whose tricks formed much of the 
amusement of a Gothic castle. Some instances of this art may be found in 
the Alinstrelsy of the Scottish Border, vol. iv. p. 106. In a strange allegor- 
ical poem, called the Iloulat, written by a dependent of the house of 
Douglas, about 1452-3, the jay, in an assembly of birds, plays the part of 
the juggler. His feats of glamour are thus described : — 

" He gart them see, as it seniyt in samyn lioure, 
Hunting at herdis in holtis so hair; 
Some sailand on the see schippis of tourc, 
Bernis battalland on burd brim as a bare: 
He couldc carye tlie coup of the kingis des, 
Syne leve in the stede, 
Bot a black bunwede : 
He coukl of a henis hcde 
Make a man mes. 

" He gart the Kmprourc tri)\v, and ircwlyc behaki, 
That the corncraiK\ the punilare at hand, 
Hail poyndit all his pris hors in a poyml fald, 
Because thai ete of the itun in the kirklaiul. 



200 



THE LAY OF 



He could wirk windaris, quhat way that he wald, 

Mak a gray gus a gold garland, 
A lang spere of a bittile, for a heme bald, 

Nobilis of nutschelles, and silver of sand. 
Thus joukit with juxters the janglane ja, 

Fair ladyes in ringis, 

Knychtis in caralyngis, 

Bayth dansis and singis, 
It semyt as sa." 

Note V. 

Now, if you ask who gave the stroke, 

I cannot tell, so mot I thrive ; 

It was notgiveji by viati alive. — P. 75. 

Dr. Henry More, in a letter prefixed to Glanville's Saducisvitis Tri- 
nmphatiis, mentions a similar phenomenon. 

" I remember an old gentleman in the country, of my acquaintance, an 
excellent justice of peace, and a piece of a mathematician ; but what kind 
of a philosopher he was, you may understand from a rhyme of his own 
making, which he commended to me at my taking horse in his yard, which 
rhyme is this : — 

' Ens is nothing till sense finds out : 
Sense ends in nothing, so naught goes about.* 

A\Tiich rhyme of his was so rapturous to himself, that, on the reciting of 
the second verse, the old man turned himself about upon his toe as nimbly 
as one may observe a dry leaf whisked round the corner of an orchard- 
walk by some little whirlwind. With this philosopher I have had many 
discourses concerning the immortality of the soul and its distinction; when 
I have run him quite down by reason, he would but laugh at me, and say, 
this is logic, H. (calling me by my Christian name); to which I replyed, 
this is reason father L. (for so I used and some others to call him) ; but it 
seems you are for the new lights, and immediate inspiration, which I con- 
fess he was as little for as for the other ; but I said so only in the way of 
drollery to him in those times, but truth is, nothing but palpable experi- 
ence would move him; and being a bold man, and fearing of nothing, he 
told me he had used all the magical ceremonies of conjuration he could, to 
raise the devil or a spirit, and had a most earnest desire to meet with one, 
but never could do it. But this he told me, when he did not so much as 
think of it, while his servant was pulling off his boots in the hall, some 



L 



THE LAST MINSTREL. 



20 1 



invisible hand gave him such a clap upon the back, that it made all ring 
again; *so,' thought he now, 'I am invited to the converse of my spirit,' 
and therefore so soon as his boots were off, and his shoes on, out he goes 
into the yard and next field, to find out the spirit that had given him this 
familiar clap on the back, but found none neither in the yard nor field 
next to it. 

" But though he did not feel this stroke, albeit he thought it afterwards 
(finding nothing came of it) a mere delusion; yet not long before his 
death, it had more force with him than all the philosophical arguments I 
could use to him, though I could wind him and nonplus him as I pleased; 
but yet all my arguments, how solid soever, made no impression upon 
him; wherefore, after several reasonings of this nature, whereby I would 
prove to him the soul's distinction from the body, and its immortality, 
when nothing of such subtile consideration did any more execution on his 
mind than some lightning is said to do, though it melts the sword, on the 
fuzzy consistency of the scabbard, — * Well,' said I, * father L., though 
none of these things move you, I have something still behind, and what 
yourself has acknowledged to be true, that may do the business : — Do you 
remember the clap on your back when your servant was pulling off your 
boots in the hall? Assure yourself, says I, father L., that goblin will be 
the first to bid you welcome into the other world.' Upon that his coun- 
tenance changed most sensibly, and he was more confounded with this 
rubbing up his memory, than with all the rational or philosophical argu- 
mentations that I could produce." 



NOTK \V. 

But she has ta\'n the broken lancgy 
And wash\i it fro?n the clotted ^ore. 
And salved the splinter o'er and o'er. — P. ?>Tf. 

Sir Kenelm Digby, in a discourse upon the cure by sympathy, pro- 
nounced at Montpelier before an assembly of nobles and learned men, 
translated into English by R. White, gentleman, and published in 1658, 
gives us the following curious surgical case : — 

" Mr James Ilowel (well known in France for his public works, and 
particularly for his Dendrolo^^ie, translated into French by Mons. Hau- 
douin) coming by chance, as two of his best friends wore lighting in duel. 
he did his endeavour to part thoni; and, putting himselfe between ihcm. 
seized, with his left hand, upon the hill of the swonl of one of the com- 



Tiif^- nsTLT mnsmnsi. vxj_ mrr iid^ iigcrTsr tt^ irrtfr, 3 
cafe tetfte^RSPfkoKA 




THE LAST MINSTREL, 



203 



with a gentleman in a corner of my chamber, not regarding at all what I 
was doing; but he started suddenly, as if he had found some strange alter- 
ation in himself. I asked him what he ailed? 'I know not what ailes 
me; but I finde that I feel no more pain. Methinks that a pleasing kinde 
of freshnesse, as it were a wet cold napkin, did spread over my hand, 
which hath taken away the inflammation that tormented me before.' — I 
replied, * Since then that you feel already so good effect of my medica- 
ment, I advise you to cast away all your playsters; only keep the wound 
clean and in a moderate temper betwixt heat and cold.' This was pres- 
ently reported to the Duke of Buckingham, and a little after to the King, 
who were both very curious to know the circumstance of the businesse, 
which was, that after dinner I took the garter out of the water, and put it 
to dry before a great fire. It was scarce dry, but Mr. Howel's servant 
came running, that his master felt as much burning as ever he had done, if 
not more; for the heat was such as if his hand were 'twixt coles of fire. I 
answered, although that had happened at present, yet he should find ease 
in a short time; for I knew the reason of this new accident, and would 
provide accordingly; for his master should be free from that inflammation, 
it may be before he could possibly return to him; but in case he found no 
ease, I wished him to come presently back again; if not, he might forbear 
coming. Thereupon he went; and at the instant I did put again the 
garter into the water, thereupon he found his master without any pain at 
all. To be brief, there was no sense of pain afterward; but within live or 
six dayes the wounds were cicatrized, and entirely healed." — Page 6. 

The King (James VI.) obtained from Sir Kenelm the discovery of his 
secret, which he pretended had been taught him by a Carmelite friar, who 
had learned it in Armenia, or Persia. Let not the age of animal magnet- 
ism and metallic tractors smile at the sympathetic powder of Sir Kenelm 
Digby. Reginald Scott mentions the same mode of cure in these tcrins : 
— **And that which is more strange . . . they can remedie anie stranger 
with that verie sword wherewith they are wounded. Vea, and that which 
is beyond all admiration, if they stroke the sword upward with their lingers, 
the partie shall feele no pain; whereas, if they draw their fingers down- 
wards, thereupon the partie wounded shall feele intolerable pain." I pre- 
sume that the success ascribed to the sympathetic mode of treatment might 
arise from the pains bestowed in washing the wounil, ami exchulmg the 
air, thus bringing on a cure by the lirsl intention. It is introduced by 
Dryden in the I'.nchantcd Island a (^very unnecessary) alteration of the 
Tempest : — 



^ 



204 



THE LAY OF 



" Ariel. Anoint the sword which pierced him with this 
Weapon-salve, and wrap it close from air, 
Till I have time to visit him again," — Act v. sc. 2. 

Again, in scene 4th, Miranda enters with Hippolito's sword wrapt up : — 

" Hip. O my wound pains me ! 

Mir. I am come to ease you. \^She imivraps the Sword. 

Hip. Alas, I feel the cold air come to me ; 
My wound shoots worse than ever. 

Mir. Does it still grieve you? \_She wipes a7id anoints the Sword. 

Hip. Now, methinks, there's something laid just upon it. 

Mir. Do you find no ease? 

Hip. Yes, yes; upon the sudden all this pain 
Is leaving me. Sweet heaven, how I am eased! " 



Note X. 

Our kin, and clan, a7id friends to raise. — P. 86. 

The speed with which the Borderers collected great bodies of horse, may 
be judged of from the following extract, when the subject of the rising was 
much less important than that supposed in the romance. It is taken from 
Carey's Me?noirs: — 

" Upon the death of the old Lord Scroop, the Queen gave the west 
wardenry to his son, that had married my sister. He having received that 
office, came to me with great earnestness, and desired me to be his deputy, 
offering me that I should live with him in his house; that he would allow 
me half a dozen men, and as many horses to be kept at his charge; and his 
fee being 1000 merks yearly, he would part it with me, and I should have 
the half. This his noble offer I accepted of, and went with him to Carlisle 
where I was no sooner come, but I entered into m.y office. We had a 
stirring time of it; and few days past over my head but I was on horse- 
back, either to prevent mischief, or take malefactors, and to bring the Bor- 
der in better quiet that it had been in times past. One memorable thing of 
God's mercy shewed unto me, was such as I have good cause still to 
remember it. 

" I had private intelligence given me, that there were two Scottishmen 
that had killed a churchman in Scotland, and were by one of the Graemes 
relieved. This Grgeme dwelt within five miles of Carlisle. He had a 
pretty house, and close by it a strong tower, for his own defence in time of 
need. — About two o'clock in the morning, I took horse in Carlisle, and 
not above twenty-five in my company, thinking to surprise the house on a 



THE LAST MINSTREL, 



20; 



sudden. Before I could surround the house, the two Scots were gotten in the 
strong tower, and I could see a boy riding from the house as fast as his horse 
could carry him; I little suspecting what it meant. But Thomas Carleton 
came to me presently, and told me, that if I did not presently prevent it, 
both myself and all my company would be either slain or taken prisoners. 
It was strange to me to hear this language. He then said to me, * Do you 
see that boy that rideth away so fast? He will be in Scotland within this half 
hour; and he is gone to let them know, that you are here, and to what 
end you are come, and the small number you have with you; and that if 
they will make haste, on a sudden they may surprise us, and do with us 
what they please.' Hereupon we took advice what wj^ best to be done. 
We sent notice presently to all parts to raise the country, and to come to 
us with all the speed they could; and withall we sent to Carlisle to raise 
the townsmen; for without foot we could do no good against the tower. 
There we staid some hours, expecting more company; and within short 
time after the country came in all sides, so that we were quickly between 
three and four hundred horse; and, after some longer stay, the foot of 
Carlisle came to us, to the number of three or four hundred men; whom 
we presently set to work, to go to the top of the tower, and to uncover the 
roof; and then some twenty of them to fall down together, and by that 
means to win the tower. — The Scots, seeing their present danger, offereil 
to parley, and yielded themselves to my mercy. They had no sooner 
opened the iron gate, and yielded themselves my prisoners, but we might 
see 400 horse within a quarter of a mile coming to their rescue, and to 
surprise me and my small company; but of a sudden they stayed, ami 
stood at gaze. Then had I more to do than ever; for all our Borderers 
came crying, with full mouths, ' wSir, give us leave to set upon them; U^x 
these are they that have killed our fathers, our brothers, and uncles, and 
our cousins; and they are coming, thinking to surjirise you, upon weak 
grass nags, such as they could get on a sudden; and God hath put them 
into your hands, that we may take revenge of them for much blood that 
they have spilt of ours.' I desired they would be patient a while, and 
])ethought myself, if I should give them their will, there would be few or 
none of the Scots that would escape unkilleil; (there was so many deadly 
feuds among them;) and therefore I resolved with myself to give them a 
fair answer, but not to give them their desire. So I told them, that if I 
were not there myself, they might then do what they pleased themselves; 
but being present, if I should give them leave, the blood that sliould be 
spilt that day would lie very hard ujion my conscience. .\nd therefore I 
desired them, for my sake, to forbear; and. if th»- S. ..tx .lid lu.f i»tr>cntly 



2o6 THE LAY OF 



make away with all the speed they could, upon my sending to them, they 
should then have their wills to do what they pleased. They were ill satis- 
fied with my answer, but durst not disobey. I sent with speed to the 
Scots, and bade them pack away with all the speed they could; for if they 
stayed the messenger's return, they should few of them return to their own 
home. They made no stay; but they were returned homewards before 
the messenger had made an end of his message. Thus, by God's mercy, 
I escaped a great danger; and, by my means, there were a great many 
men's lives saved that day." 

Note Y. 

Show* d southern ravage zaas begun. — P. 92. 

From the following fragment of a letter from the Earl of Northumber- 
land to King Henry VIII. , preserved among the Cotton MSS. Calig. B. vii. 
179, the reader may estimate the nature of the dreadful war which was oc- 
casionally waged upon the Borders, sharpened by mutual cruelties, and the 
personal hatred of the wardens, or leaders. 

Some Scottish Barons, says the Earl, had threatened to come within 
^' three miles of my pore house of Werkworth, where I lye, and gif me 
light to put on my clothes at mydnight; and alsoo the said Marke Carr 
said there opynly, that, seyng they had a governor on the Marches of Scot- 
land, as well as they had in Ingland, he shulde kepe your highness instruc- 
tions, gyffyn unto your garyson, for making of any day-forrey; for he and 
his friends wolde burne enough on the nyght, lettyng your counsaill here 
defyne a notable acte at theyre pleasures. Upon whiche, in your highnes 
name, I comaundet dewe watche to be kepte on your Marchies, for comyng 
in of any Scotts. — Neuerthles, upon Thursday at night last, came thyrty 
light horsemen into a litil village of myne, called Whitell, having not past 
sex houses, lying towards Ryddisdaill, upon Shilbotell More, and there 
wold have fyred the said howses, but there was no fyre to get there, and 
they forgate to brynge any withe theyme; and took a wyf being great with 
childe, in the said towne, and said to hyr, Wher we can not gyve the lard 
lyght, yet we shall doo this in spyte of hym; and gyve her iii mortall 
wounds upon the heid, and another in the right side, with a dagger : 
whereupon the said wyf is deede, and the childe in her bely is loste. Be- 
seeching your most gracious highness to reduce unto your gracious memory 
this wylful and shamefull murder, done within this your highnes realme, 
notwithstanding all the inhabitants therabout rose unto the said fray, and 



THE LAST MINSTREL. 207 

gave warnynge by becons into the countrey afore theyme, and yet the 
Scottsmen dyde escape. And uppon certeyne knowledge to my brother 
Clyfforthe and me, had by credible persons of Scotland, this abomynable 
act not only to be done by dy verse of the Mershe, but also the afore named 
persons of Tyvidaill, and consented to, as by appearance, by the Erie of 
Murey, upon Friday at night last, let slyp C of the best horsemen of Glen- 
daill, with a parte of your highnes subjects of Berwyke, together with 
George Dowglas, whoo came into Ingland agayne, in the dawning of the 
day; but afore theyre retorne, they dyd mar the Earl of Murreis provisions 
at Coldingham; for they did not only burne the said town of Coldingham, 
with all the corne thereunto belonging, which is esteemed wurthe cii marke 
sterling; but alsoo burned twa townes nye adjoining thereunto, called 
Branerdergest and the Black Hill, and toke xxiii persons, Ix horse, with cc 
hed of cataill, which, nowe as I am informed, hathe not only been a staye 
of the said Erie of Murreis not coming to the Bordure as yet, but alsoo, 
that none inlande man will adventure theyr self uppon the Marches. And 
as for the tax that shulde have been grauntyd for finding of the said iii 
hundred men, is utterly denyed. Upon which the King of Scotland 
departed from Edynburgh to Stirling, and as yet there doth remayn. And 
also I, by the advice of my brother Clyfforth, have devysed, that within 
this iii nyghts, Godde willing, Kelsey, in like case, shall be brent, with all 
the corn in the said town; and then they shall have noo place to lye any 
garyson in nygh unto the Borders. And as I shall atteigne further knowl- 
edge, I shall not faill to satisfye your highnes, according to my most 
bounden dutie. And for this burnyng of Kelsey is devysed to be done 
secretly, by Tyndaill and Ryddisdale. And thus the holy Trynite and * * ♦ 
your most royal estate, with long lyf, and as much increase of honour as 
your most noble heart can desire. At IVerkwortk the ^\\\d day of October T 
(1522.) 

NOTK Z. 

Belted Will Jhnvard. — \\ 95. 

Lord William Howard, third son of Tliomas, Duke of Norfolk, suc- 
ceeded to Naworth Castle, and a large domain annexed to it, in right of 
his wife Kli/abcth, sister of George Lord Dacre, who died without hcirs- 
malc, in the nth of ()iiccn Elizabeth. \\y a poetical anachronism, he is 
introduced into the romance a few years earlier than he actually llourishctl. 
He was warden of the Western ^Llrches; and, from the rigor with which 



2o8 THE LAY OF 



he repressed the Border excesses, the name of Belted Will Howard is still 
famous in our traditions. In the castle of Xaworth, his apartments, con- 
taining a bedroom, oratory, and library, are still shown. They impre^ ns 
with an unpleasing idea of the life of lord warden of the Marches. Three 
or four strong doors, separating these rooms from the rest of the castle, 
indicate the apprehensions of treachery from his garrison : and the secret 
winding passages, through which he could privately descend into the guard- 
room, or even into the dungeons, imply the necessity of no small degree 
of secret superintendence on the part of the governor. As the ancient 
books and furniture have remained undisturbed^ the venerable appearance 
of these apartments, and the armor scattered around the chamber, almost 
lead us to expect the arrival of the warden in person. Xaworth Casde is 
situated near Brampton, in Cumberland. Lord William Howard is ances- 
tor of the Earls of Carlisle. 

Note A 2, 

Lord Dacre, — P. 95. 

The well-known name of Dacre is derived from the exploits of one of 
their ancestors at the siege of Acre, or Ptolemais, under Richard Coeur de 
lion. There were two powerful branches of that name. The first family, 
called Lord Dacres of the South, held the castle of the same name, and 
are ancestors to the present Lord Dacre. The other family, descended 
from the same stock, were called Lord Dacres of the North, and were 
barons of GiLsland and Graystock. A chieftain of the latter branch was 
warden of the West Marches during the reign of Edward VI. He was a 
man of a hot and obstinate character, as appears from some particulars of 
Lord Surrey's letter to Henry ^1IL, giving an account of his behavior at 
the siege and storm of Jedburgh. It is printed in the Minstrelsy of the 
Scottish Border, Appendix to the Introduction. 

Note B 2. 

The German hackbut-men. — P. 95. 

In the wars with Scotland, Henry VIU. and his successors employed 
numerous bands of mercenary troops. At the battle of Pinky, there were 
in the English army six hundred hackbutters on foot, and two hundred on 
horseback, composed chiefly of foreigners. On the 27th of September, 1549, 
the Duke of Somerset, Lord Protector, writes to the Lord Dacre, warden of 



THE LAST MINSTREL, 209 

the West Marches: "The Almains, in number two thousand, very valiant 
soldiers, shall be sent to you shortly from Newcastle, together with Sir 
Thomas Holcroft, and with the force of your wardenry (which we would 
were advanced to the most strength of horsemen that might be), shall 
make the attempt to Loughmaben, being of no such strength but that it 
may be skailed with ladders, whereof, beforehand, we would you caused 
secretly some number to be provided ; or else undermined with the pyke- 
axe, and so taken : either to be kept for the King's Majesty, or otherwise to 
be defaced, and taken from the profits of the enemy. And in like man- 
ner the house of Carlaverock to be used." Repeated mention occurs of 
the Almains in the subsequent correspondence; and the enterprise seems 
finally to have been abandoned, from the difficulty of providing these 
strangers with the necessary victuals and carriages in so poor a country as 
Dumfries-shire." — History of Ctmiberland, vol. i. Introd. p. Ixi. From 
the battle-pieces of the ancient Flemish painters, we learn, that the Low 
Country and German soldiers marched to an assault with their right knees 
bared. And we may also observe, in such pictures, the extravagance to which 
they carried the fashion of ornamenting their dress with knots of ribbon. 
This custom of the Germans is alluded to in the Mi rr our for Magistrates^ 

p. 121. 

" Their pleited garments therewith well accord, 
All jagde and frounst, with divers colors deckt." 

N(^TK C 2. 

'' Ready^ aye ready,'' for the field. — P. 96. 

Sir John Scott of Thirlestane nourished in the reign of James V., and 
possessed the estates of Thirlestane, Ciamescleuch, ivc, lying upon the 
river of Ettrick, and extending to St. Mary's Loch, at the head of Yarrow. 
It appears, that when James had assembled his nobility, and their feudal 
followers, at Fala, with the purpose of invading Kngland, and was, as is 
well-known, disappointed by the obstinate refusal of his peers, this baron 
alone declared himself ready to follow the King wherever he should Icail. 
In memory of his lidelity, James granted to his family a charter of arms, 
entitling them to bear a border of lleurs-de-luce, similar to ihe treasure 
in the royal arms, with a bundle t)f spears for the crest; motto, AV</./r, 
aye ready. The charter itself is printed by Nisbet; but his work being 
scarce, I insert the following accurate transcript fr»)m the original, in iho 
])()Ssession of the Right Honorable Lord Napier, the representative i>f 
Ji)hii of Thirlestaine. 



2IO THE LAY OF 



"James Rex. 

" We James, by the grace of God, King of Scottis, considerand the fifaith 
and guid servis of of of ^ right traist friend John Scott of Thirlestane, quha 
cummand to our hoste at Soutra-edge, with three score and ten launcieres 
on horseback of his friends and followers, and beand willing to gang with 
ws into England, when all our nobles and others refused, he was ready to 
stake at all our bidding; ffor the quhilk cause it is our will, and we doe 
straitlie command and charge our lion herauld and his deputies for the 
time beand, to give and to graunt to the said John Scott, ane Border of 
ffleure de lises about his coatte of armes, sik as is on our royal banner, and 
alsua ane bundell of launces above his helmet, with thir words, Readdy, ay 
Readdy, that he and all his aftercummers may bruik the samine as a pledge 
and taiken of our guid will and kyndnes for his true worthines; and 
thir our letters seen, ye nae wayes failzie to doe. Given at Ffalla Muire, 
under our hand and pri\7 cashet, the xxvii day of July, m c and xxxii 
zeires. By the King's graces speciall ordinance. 

" Jo. Arskine." 

On the back of the charter is written, 
" Edin. 14 January, 171 3. Registred, conform to the act of parliament 
made anent probative wTits, per M'Kaile, pror. and produced by Alexander 
Borthwick, servant to Sir \Yilliam Scott of Thirlestane. M. L. J." 



Note D 2. 

An aged K^iight^ to dangei' steel' d^ 

With ma7iy a 77ioss-trooper, cauie on ; 
A?id azure z;/ a golden fields 
The Stars and crescent graced his shield, 

Without the beiid of Murdieston. — P. 96. 

The family of Harden are descended from a younger son of the Laird of 
Buccleuch, who flourished before the estate of Murdieston was acquired by 
the marriage of one of those chieftains with the heiress, in 1296. Hence 
they bear the cognizance of the Scotts upon the field; whereas those of 
the Buccleuch are disposed upon a bend dexter, assumed in consequence 
of that marriage. — See Gladstaine of Whitelawe's AISS., and ScOTT of 
Stokoe's Pedigree, Newcastle, 1783. 

1 Sic in original. 



THE LAST MINSTREL. 211 

Walter Scott of Harden, who flourished during the reign of Queen Mary, 
was a renowned Border freebooter, concerning whom tradition has pre- 
served a variety of anecdotes, some of which have been piibHshed in the 
Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border ; others in Leyden's Scenes of Infancy ; 
and others, more lately, in The Mountain Bard, a collection of Border 
ballads by Mr. James Hogg. The bugle-horn, said to have been used by 
this formidable leader, is preserved by his descendant, the present Mr. 
Scott of Harden. His castle was situated upon the very brink of a dark 
and precipitous dell, through which a scanty rivulet steals to meet the 
Borthwick. In the recess of this glen he is said to have kept his spoil, 
which served for the daily maintenance of his retainers, until the production 
of a pair of clean spurs, in a covered dish, announced to the hungry band, 
that they must ride for a supply of provisions. He was married to Mary 
Scott, daughter of Philip Scott of Dryhope, and called in song the Flower 
of Yarrow. He possessed a very extensive estate, which was divided 
among his five sons. There are numerous descendants of this old maraud- 
ing Baron. The following beautiful passage of Leyden's Scenes of 
Infancy, is founded on a tradition respecting an infant captive, whom 
Walter of Harden carried off in a predatory incursion, and who is saiil to 
have become the author of some of our most beautiful pastoral songs : — 



* Where Bortha hoarse, that loads the meeds with sand, 
Rolls her red tide to Teviot's western strand 
Through slaty hills, whose sides are shagg'd with thorn, 
"Where springs, in scatter'd tufts, the dark-green corn, 
Towers wood-girt Harden, far above the vale. 
And clouds of ravens o'er the turrets sail. 
A hardy race, who never shrunk from war. 
The Scott, to rival realms a mighty bar. 
Here fixed his mountain-home; — a wide domain. 
And rich the soil, had purple heath been grain; 
But what the niggard ground of wealth denied, 
From fields more bless'd liis fearless arm supplied. 

'The waning harvest-moon shone cold and bright, 
The warder's horn was heard at tlead of night; 
And as the massy portals wide were flung, 
With stamping hoofs the rocky pavement rung. 
What fair, half-veil'd, leans from her latticed h.ill, 
Where red the wavering gleams of torchlight fall? 
'Tis Yarrow's fairest Klower, who, through the glix)m 
Looks, wistful, for her lover's dancing plume. 
Amid the piles of spoil, that strew'il the ground, 
Her ear, all anxious, caught a wailing sound. 



I 



212 THE LAY OF 



With trembling haste the youthful matron flew. 
And from the hurried heaps an infant drew. 

* Scared at the light, his little hands he flung 
Around her neck, and to her bosom clung; 
While beauteous Mary soothed, in accents mild. 
His fluttering soul, and clasp'd her foster child. 
Of milder mood the gentle captive grew. 
Nor loved the scenes that scared his infant view ; 
In vales remote, from camps and castles far, 
He shunn'd the fearful shuddering joy of war; 
Content the loves of simple swains to sing, 
Or wake to fame the harp's heroic string. 

■* His are the strains, whose wandering echoes thrill 
The shepherd, lingering on the twilight hill. 
When evening brings the merry folding hours, 
And sun-eyed daisies close their winking flowers. 
He lived o'er Yarrow's Flower to shed the tear. 
To strew the holly leaves o'er Harden's bier: 
But none was found above the minstrel's tomb. 
Emblem of peace, to bid the daisy bloom : 
He, nameless as the race from which he sprung, 
Saved other names, and left his own unsung." 



Note E 2. 

K^tighthood he took of Douglas' sword. — P. 109. 

The dignity of knighthood, according to the original institution, had this 
peculiarity, that it did not flow from the monarch, but could be conferred 
by one who himself possessed it, upon any squire who, after due probation, 
was found to merit the honor of chivalry. Latterly, this power was con- 
fined to generals, who were wont to create knights bannerets after or 
before an engagement. Even so late as the reign of Queen Elizabeth, 
Essex highly offended his jealous sovereign by the indiscriminate exertion 
of this privilege. Among others, he knighted the witty Sir John Harring- 
ton, whose favor at court was by no means enhanced by his new honors. 
— See the Nugce Antiquce^ edited by Mr. Park. But probably the latest 
instance of knighthood, conferred by a subject, was in the case of Thomas 
Ker, knighted by the Earl of Huntley, after the defeat of the Earl of Ar- 
gyle in the battle of Belrinnes. The fact is attested, both by a poetical 
and prose account of the engagement, contained in an ancient MS. in the 
Advocates' Library, and edited by Mr. Dalyell, in Godly Sangs and Bal- 
lets , Edin., 1802. 



THE LAST MINSTREL. 213 



Note F 2. 

Let Musgrave meet fierce Deloraitie 
In single fight. ■ — P. 112. 

It may easily be supposed, that trial by single combat, so peculiar to the 
feudal system, was common on the Borders. In 1558, the well-known 
Kirkaldy of Grange fought a duel with Ralph Evre, brother to the then 
Lord Evre, in consequence of a dispute about a prisoner said to have been 
ill treated by the Lord Evre. Pitscottie gives the following account of 
the affair: "The Lord of Ivers his brother provoked William Kircaldy of 
Grange to fight with him, in singular combat, on horseback, with spears ; 
who, keeping the appointment, accompanied with Monsieur d'Ossel, lieu- 
tenant to the French King, and the garrison of Haymouth, and Mr. Ivers, 
-accompanied with the governor and garrison of Berwick, it was discharged, 
under the pain of treason, that any man should come near the champions 
within. a flight-shot, except one man for either of them, to bear their spears, 
two trumpets, and two lords to be judges. When they were in readiness, 
the trumpets sounded, the heraulds cried, and the judges let them go. 
They then encountered very fiercely; but Grange struck his spear through 
his adversary's shoulder, and bare him off his horse, being sore wounded : 
But whether he died, or not, it is uncertain." — P. 202. 

The following indenture will show at how late a period the trial by com- 
bat was resorted to on the Border, as a proof of guilt or innocence : — 

" It is agreed between Thomas Musgrave and Lancelot Carleton for the 
true trial of such controversies as are betwixt them, to have it openly tricil 
by way of combat, before God and the face of the world, to try it in 
Canonbyholme, before England and Scotland, ui)on Thursch^y in Easter- 
week, being the eighth day of April next ensuing, a.d. 1602, betwixt nine 
of the clock, and one of the same day, to fight on foot, to be armed willi 
jack, steel cap, phiite sleeves, plaite breaches, plaite sockes, two baslcard 
swords, the blades to be one yard aiul half a quarter in length, two Scotcli 
daggers, or dorks, at their girdles, and cither of them to provide armour 
and weapons for themselves, according to this iiulenture. Two gentlemen 
to be appointed, on the field, to view both the parties, to .see that they bi>lh 
be ecjual in arms and weapons, according to this indenture; and l)cing ."io 
viewed by the gentlemen, the gentlemen to ride to tlie rest of the company, 
and to \c:\\c them but two boys, viewed by tlie gentlemen, tt> bo under six- 
teen years of age, to hold their horses. In testimony of tliis t>ur agree- 



214 



THE LAY OF 



ment, we have both set our hands to this indenture, of intent all matters 
shall be made so plain, as there shall be no question to stick upon that 
day. Which indenture, as a witness, shall be delivered to two gentlemen. 
And for that it is convenient the world should be privy to every particular 
of the grounds of the quarrel, we have agreed to set it down in this inden- 
ture betwixt us, that, knowing the quarrel, their eyes may be witness of the 
trial. 

THE GROUNDS OF THE QUARREL. 

" I. Lancelot Carleton did charge Thomas Musgrave before the Lords 
of her Majesty's Privy Council, that Lancelot Carleton was told by a gen- 
tleman, one of her Majesty's sworn servants, that Thomas Musgrave had 
offered to deliver her Majesty's Castle of Bewcastle to the King of Scots; 
and to witness the same, Lancelot Carleton had a letter under the gentle- 
man's own hand for his discharge. 

" 2. He chargeth him, that whereas her Majesty doth yearly bestow a 
great fee upon him, as captain of Bewcastle, to aid and defend her Maj- 
esty's subjects therein: Thomas Musgrave hath neglected his duty, for 
that her Majesty's Castle of Bewcastle was by him made a den of thieves, 
and an harbour and receipt for murderers, felons, and all sorts of misde- 
meanors. The precedent was Quintin Whitehead and Runion Black- 
burne. 

" 3. He chargeth him, that his office of Bewcastle is open for the Scotch 
to ride in and through, and small resistance made by him to the contrary. 

" Thomas Musgrave doth deny all this charge; and saith, that he 
will prove that Lancelot Carleton doth falsely bely him, and will prove 
the same by way of combat, according to this indenture. Lancelot Carle- 
ton hath entertained the challenge; and so, by God's permission, will 
prove it true as before, and hath set his hand to the same. 

(Signed) ** Thomas Musgrave. 

"Lancelot Carleton." 



Note G 2. 

He, the jovial harper. — P. 114. 

The person here alluded to, is one of our ancient Border minstrels, 
called Rattling Roaring Willie. This soubriquet was probably derived 
from his bullying disposition; being, it would seem, such a roaring boy, as 
is frequently mentioned in old plays. While drinking at Newmill, upon 
Teviot, about five miles above Hawick, Willie chanced to quarrel with one 



THE LAST MINSTREL. 2 1 5 

of his own profession, who was usually distinguished by the odd name of 
Sweet Milk, from a place on Rule Water so called. They retired to a 
meadow on the opposite side of the Teviot, to decide the contest with their 
swords, and Sweet Milk was killed on the spot. A thorn-tree marks the 
scene of the murder, which is still called Sweet Milk Thorn. Willie was 
taken and executed at Jedburgh, bequeathing his name to the beautiful 
Scotch air, called '' Rattling Roaring Willie." Ramsay, who set no value 
on traditionary lore, published a few verses of this song in the Tea- Table 
Miscellany^ carefully suppressing all which had any connection with the 
history of the author and origin of the piece. In this case, however, hon- 
est Allan is in some degree justified, by the extreme worthlessness of the 
poetry. A verse or two may be taken, as illustrative of the history of 
Roaring Willie, alluded to in the text : — 

** Now Willie's gane to Jeddart, 

And he's for the rood-day; ^ 
But Stobs and young Falnash 2 

They follow'd him a' the way ; 
They follow'd him a' the way, 

They sought him up and down, 
In the links of Ousenam water 

They fand him sleeping sound. 

** Stobs light aff his horse, 

And never a word he spak. 
Till he tied Willie's hands 

Fu' fast behind his back; 
Fu' fast behind his back, 

And down beneath his knee, 
And drink will be dear to Willie, 

When sweet milk ^ gars him die. 

" Ah wae light on ye, Stobs! 

An ill death mot ye die; 
Ye're the first and foremost man 

That e'er laid hands on me; 
That e'er laid hands on me, 

And took my mare me frae : 
Wae to you. Sir Gilbert Elliot! 

Ye are my mortal fac ! 

** The lasses of Ousenam water 

Are nigging ami riving their hair, 
And a' for the sake of Willie, 

« 1 The day of the Rood-fair at Jedburgh. 

»Sir Gilbert Klliot of Stobs, and Scoll of Falnash. 
•A wretched pun on his antagonist's numc. 



2i6 ~^^ -^*" OF 



.Si^ •msrvm^ m&i h^^ fir&iddem ^)£iL — P. 141. 

Piopolar befie^ llioii^ cxMilbcaij fo llie docfoiis of ttiie Qnrdi, i 
foivxable tfiagjndrimn betwist raag^dans, and nccro^rr^-^frgTSy cr miiardk; die 
fooncr woe supposed Id oommarad tibe e«il ^pcr. : e laiftcr to senre, 

or at least Id be in league and compact widi, 11. t >^ :»f mgiil:iwd 

The arts «tf safafeciii^ die demons viae mani: ~ tbe i&aid^ 

unexe actaalfy svindled \k die im^^aans^ si in tl t ^ in be- 

twixt one erf dieir nmnber and die poet yUn^ 7 ^ mill 

doobdeas be €snoiB fo pemse dds anecdote : — 

'"Yii^^fins was at sccde at TolenlDn, mbere be stod;^ db^%gendp, for be 
masof gieatandefstand^ii^e. IHponi a l^me, fbe socdecs bad If cense to go 
fo pla^and spoite fbem in die f^ldes^ after fbe asmceof fbe oldnme. 
And there was ako l^iSiliiB fbedjfe, also nalk^'n^ anm^ fbe bfUes alle 
about. It faftnned be spvcd a great bole in fbe sfde of a gieat b^ll, 
mhmon be w^ent so depe, fbat be ddd not see no more ^^g^; and fban 
be went a ktidl &rtber dieiein, and fban be saw some K^^fat agi^ne, and 
fban be wait fomdi sfief^jhfe. and wifbin a l^pfdlwile after bebaidea 
Tov'cefbatcalled, 'Yi^fins! Yiig^l&ns!!' and bxAed aboofe;. and be colde 
nat see no bodf. Tban said be (Le. die wm££), 'Yirg^fins^ see yc not fbe 
tytjHIbcndelviii^bfsyde jon fbeiemariked widi diat wi^ Tban an- 
s«neied¥iisQiB,'I see diat bofdewdl anoo^" Tbe ino^ioe said, ' Doo 
aw»pe fbat border and letfe me out daeie afte.' Tban ansvneied YicgjSns 
to dc TiMce diat was mider fbe Iftdl borde, and sayd, ' Wbo ait fbon fbat 
caHest me so?' Tban answered fbe dergil, ' I am a dcwyfl m nja i c d owt €>f 
die bo^vof a certewne man, and banfssbed beie tdl die da^crf" jn^- 
idMMC diat I be ddbpRcred bf die bandes of men. Tb^s Vi^l- 
, I prsf fbe, defyver me oat dt fb^ pv^n, and I sball sbewe mito fbe 
' bokes <]f negramaniTe, and bow fbon sbalt come bf it l^^i%, and 
know dK pcactjfse dieiein, diat no man in fbe science <if m gna i unfy c 
sball pasK fbe. And moreover, I sball sbewe and cnfoime fbe so^ diat 
dion sbab baic aUe fbj desfie, wbcrcbf ™«Hfmitrf> it b a g^reat gffte for so 
IrtiU a dcni^. For 5« mav also diiB all j«ms p^jwer iie u d i ^ befee, said 



I 



THE LAST MINSTREL, 217 

make ryche your enemyes.' Thorough that great promyse was Virgilius 
tempted; he badde the fynd show the bokes to hym, that he might have 
and occupy them at his wyll; and so the fynde shewed him. And than 
VirgiUus pulled open a horde, and there was a lytell hole, and thereat 
wrang the devyll out like a yell, and cam and stode before VirgiUus lyke 
a by gge man; whereof Virgilius was astonied and marveyled greatly 
thereof, that so great a man myght come out at so lytyll a hole. Than 
sayd Virgilius, * Shulde ye well passe into the hole that ye cam out of? ' 
— 'Yea, I shall well,' said the devyl. — *I holde the best plegge that I 
have, that ye shall not do it.' — ' Well,' sayd the devyll, * thereto I consent.' 
And than the devyll wrang himselfe into the lytyll hole ageyne; and as he 
was therein, Virgilius kyvered the hole ageyne with the borde close, and so 
was the devyll begyled, and myght nat there come out agen, but abydeth 
shytte styll therein. Than called the devyll dredefully to Virgilius, and 
said, 'What have ye done, Virgilius?' — Virgilius answered, ' Abyde there 
styll to your day appoynted; ' and fro thens forth abydeth he there. And 
so Virgilius became very connynge in the practyse of the black scyence." 

This story may remind the reader of the Arabian tale of the Fisherman 
and the imprisoned Genie; and it is more than probable, that many of the 
marvels narrated in the life of Virgil, are of Oriental extraction. Among 
such I am disposed to reckon the following whimsical account of the foun- 
dation of Naples, containing a curious theory concerning the origin of the 
earthquakes with which it is afflicted. Virgil, who was a person of gallan- 
try, had, it seems, carried off the daughter of a certain Soldan, antl was 
anxious to secure his prize. 

" Than he thought in his mynde how he myght marye hyr, and thought 
in his mynde to founde in the middes of the see a fayer towne, with great 
landes belongynge to it; and so he did by his cunnynge, and called it 
Napells. And the fandacyon of it was of egges, and in that town of Na- 
pells he made a tower with iiii corners, and in the toppe he set an apell 
upon an yron yarde, and no man culde pull away that apell without he 
brake it; and thoroughe that yren set he a boltc, and in that bolte set he 
a ii^g'c. And he henge the apell by the stauke upon a cheyne, and so 
hangcth il still. And when the egge styrreth, so shulde the towne of 
Napells (juake; and whan the cgge brake, than shulde the towne sinke. 
When he had made an ende, he lette call it Napells." This appears to 
have ])een an article of current belief during the middle ages, as appears 
from the statutes of tlie order Pu Saint Esprit oh iiroit Jesir, instituted in 
IJ52. A chapter of the knights is appointed to be held annually al the 
Castle of the Enchanted lOgg, near the grotto .>f Virgil. — MoNTKAl'CON, 
vol. ii. p. 329. 



2i8 THE LAY OF 



Note I 2. 

Since old Buccleuch the name did gain. 

When in the cleuch the buck was td'en. — P. 145. 

A tradition preserved by Scott of Satchells, who published, in i688, A 
true History of the Right Honourable name of Scott, gives the following 
romantic origin of that name. Two brethren, natives of Galloway, having 
been banished from that country for a riot, or insurrection, came to Rankle- 
burn, in Ettrick Forest, where the keeper, whose name was Brydone, 
received them joyfully, on account of their skill in winding the horn, and 
in the other mysteries of the chase. Kenneth MacAlpin, then King of 
Scotland, came soon after to hunt in the royal forest, and pursued a buck 
from Ettrick-heuch to the glen now called Buckcleuch, about two miles 
above the junction of Rankleburn with the river Ettrick. Here the stag 
stood at bay ; and the King and his attendants, who followed on horseback, 
were thrown out by the steepness of the hill and the morass. John, one of 
the brethren from Galloway, had followed the chase on foot; and now 
coming in, seized the buck by the horns, and, being a man of great 
strength and activity, threw him on his back, and ran with his burden 
about a mile up the steep hill, to a place called Cracra-Cross, where Ken- 
neth had halted, and laid the buck at the Sovereign's feet.^ 

** The deer being curee'd in that place. 

At his Majesty- 's demand, 
Then John of Galloway ran apace, 

And fetched water to his hand. 
The King did -"vash into a dish, 

And Galloway John he wot ; 
He said, ' Thy name now after this 

Shall ever be called John Scott. 

" ' The forest and the dear therein. 
We commit to thy hand ; 
For thou shalt sure the ranger be, 
If thou obey command; 

1 Froissart relates, that a knight of the household of the Comte de Foix exhibited a simi- 
lar feat of strength. The hall-fire had waxed low, and wood was wanted to mend it. The 
knight went down to the court-yard, where stood an ass laden with fagots, seized on the 
animal and burden, and, carrying him up to the hall on his shoulders, tumbled him into 
the chimney with his heels uppermost: a humane pleasantry, much applauded by the 
Count and all the spectators. 



THE LAST MINSTREL. 219 

And for the buck thou stoutly brought 

To us up that steep heuch, 
Thy designation ever shall 
Be John Scott in Buckscleuch.' 
****** 
** In Scotland on Buckcleuch was then, 
Before the buck in the cleuch was slain ; 
Night's meni at first they did appear, 
Because moon and stars to their arms they bear. 
Their crest, supporters, and hunting-horn, 
Show their beginning from hunting came; 
Their name, and style, the book doth say, 
John gained them both into one day." 

Watt's Bellenden. 

The Buccleuch arms have been altered, and now allude less pointedly to 
this hunting, whether real or fabulous. The family now bear (9r, upon a 
bend azure, a mullet betwixt two crescents of the field; in addition to which, 
they formerly bore in the field a hunting-horn. The supporters, now two 
ladies, were formerly a hound and buck, or, according to the old terms, a 
hart of leash and a hart of greece. The family of Scott of Howpasley and 
Thirlestaine long retained the bugle-horn ; they also carried a bent bow and 
arrow in the sinister cantle, perhaps as a difference. It is said the motto 
was, — Best ridijtg by 7noonlight^ in allusion to the crescents on the shield, 
and perhaps to the habits of those who bore it. The motto now given is 
A7nOy applying to the female supporters. 

^ " Minions of the moon," as Falstaff would have said. The vocation pursued by our 
ancient Borderers may be justified on the authority of the most polished of the ancient 
nations: — " For the Grecians in old time, and such barbarians as in the continent lived 
neere unto the sea, or else inhabited the islands, after once they began to crossc over one 
to another in ships, became theeves, and went abroad under the conduct of their more 
puissant men, both to enrich themselves, and to fetch in maintenance for the weak; and 
falling upon towns unfortified, or scatteringly inhabited, rifled them, and made this the best 
means of thear living; being a matter at that time no where in disgrace, but rather carry- 
ing with it something of glory. This is manifest by some that dwell upon the conti- 
nent, amongst whom, so it be performed nobly, it is still esteemed as an orn.imcnt. The 
same is also proved by some of the ancient poets, who introduced men questioning of such 
as sail by, on all coasts alike, whether they be theeves or not; as a thyng neythcr scorned 
by such as were asked, nor upbraided by these who were desirous to know. They also 
robbed one another, within the main land; and much of CJreecc uscih that old customc, as 
the Locrians, the Acarnauiaus^ and those of the continent in thai quarter, unto this day. 
Moreover, the fashion of wearing iron remaincth yet with the people of that continent 
from their old trade of theeving." — Houues' ThucydiiUs, p. 4. Load. 



220 '^HE LAY OF 



Note K 2. 

. . . The storm-swept Orcades ; 

Where erst St. Clairs held princely sway. 

O'er isle and islet, strait and bay. — P. 152. 

The St. Qairs are of Xorman extraction, being descended from William 
de St. Qair, second son of Walderne Compte de St. Clair, and Margaret, 
daughter to Richard Duke of Xormandy. He was called, for his fair 
deportment, the Seemly St. Clair; and, settling in Scotland during the 
reign of Malcolm Caenmore, obtained large grants of land in Mid- Lothian. 
— These domains were increased by the liberaHt}' of succeeding monarchs 
to the descendants of the family, and comprehended the baronies of Ros- 
line, Pentland, Cowsland, Cardaine, and several others. It is said a large 
edition was obtained from Robert Bruce, on the following occasion : The 
King, in follo\Ning the chase upon Pentland-hills, had often started a 
"white faunch deer,'' which had always escaped from his hounds; and 
he asked the nobles, who were assembled around him, whether any of 
them had dogs, which they thought might be more successful. No courtier 
would affirm that his hounds were fleeter than those of the king, until Sir 
William St. Qair of Roslin unceremoniously said, he would wager his head 
that his two favorite dogs. Help and Hold, would kill the deer before she 
could cross the March-bum. The King instantly caught at his unwary- 
offer, and betted the forest of Pentland-moor against the life of Sir WilHam 
St. Qair. All the hounds were tied up, except a few ratches, or slow- 
hounds , to put up the deer; while Sir William St. Qair, posting himself in 
the best situation for slipping his dogs, prayed devoudy to Christ, the 
blessed Virgin, and St. Katherine. The deer was shortly after roused, and 
the hounds slip|>ed; Sir William follo^ving on a gallant steed, to cheer his 
dogs. The hind, however, reached the middle of the brook, upon which 
the hunter threw himself from his horse in despair. At this critical 
moment, however. Hold stopped her in the brook; and Help, coming up, 
turned her back, and kiUed her on Sir William's side. The king descended 
from the hill, embraced Sir William, and bestowed on him the lands of 
Kirkton, Lx)gan-house, Eamcraig, &c., in free forestrie. Sir William, in 
acknowledgment of St. Katherine's intercession, built the chapel of St. 
Katherine in the Hopes, the churchyard of which is still to be seen. The 
hill, from which Robert Bruce beheld this memorable chase, is stiU called 
the King's Hill; and the place where Sir William hunted, is called the 



THE LAST MINSTREL, 22 1 

Knight's Field.' — MS. History of the Family of St. Clair, by Richard 
AUGUSTIN Hay, Canon of St. Genevieve. 

This adventurous huntsman married Elizabeth, daughter of Malice Spar, 
Earl of Orkney and Stratherne, in whose right their son Henry was, in 
1379, created Earl of Orkney, by Haco, king of Norway. His title was 
recognized by the Kings of Scotland, and remained with his successors 
until it was annexed to the crown, in 1471, by act of Parliament. In 
exchange for this earldom, the castle and domains of Ravenscraig, or 
Ravensheuch, were conferred on William Saintclair, Earl of Caithness. 



Note L 2. 

Still nods their palace to its fall. 

Thy pride and sorrow, fair Kirkiuall. — P. 152. 

The Castle of Kirkwall was built by the St. Clairs, while Earls of Orkney. 
It was dismantled by the Earl of Caithness about 161 5, having been 
garrisoned against the government by Robert Stewart, natural son of the 
Earl of Orkney. 

Its ruins afforded a sad subject of contemplation to John, Master of 
St. Clair, who, flying from his native country, on account of his share in 
the insurrection 1715, made some stay at Kirkwall. 

" I had occasion to entertain myself at Kirkwall with the melancholic 
prospect of the ruins of an old castle, the seat of the old Earls of Orkney, 
my ancestors; and of a more melancholy reflection, of so great and noble 
an estate as the Orkney and Shetland Isles being taken from one of them 
by James the Third, for faultric, after his brother, Alexander, Duke of 
Albany, had married a daughter of my family, and for protecting and 
defending the said Alexander against the King, who wished to kill him, as 

1 The tomb of Sir William St. Clair, on which he appears sculptiireil in armor, with a 
greyhound at his feet, is still to be seen in Roslin chapel. The person who shows it 
always tells the story of his hunting-match, with some atklition to Mr. Hay's account; as 
that the knight of Rosline's fright nunlc him pociic.il, ami that in the last emergency, he 

shouted, 

" Help, Hauil, an yc may, 
Or Roslin will lose his head this day." 
If this couplet does him no great honor as a poet, the conclusion of the stor>- d»H:s hnn 
still less credit. He set his foot on the dog, says the narrator, and killed him on the s|H>t, 
saying, he would never again put his neck in such a risk. As Mr. Hay di>cs not mention 
this circumstance, I hope it is only founded on the couchanl posture of the hound on the 
monument. 



222 '^HE LAY OF THE E4ST MLXSTREL. 

he had done his younger brother, the Earl of Mar: and for which, after 
the forfaultrie, he gratefully divorced my forfaulted ancestor's sister; 
though I cannot persuade myself that he had any misalliance to plead 
against a familie in whose veins the blood of Robert Bruce ran as fresh as ^ 
in his o\sTi; for their title to the crowne was by a daughter of David Bruce, 
son to Robert; and our alliance was by marrying a grandchild of the same 
Robert Bruce, and daughter to the sister of the same David, out of the 
familie of Douglass, which at that time did not much suUie the blood, 
more than my ancestor's having not long before had the honour of mar- 
rying a daughter of the King of Denmark's, who was named Florentine, and 
has left in the town of Kirkwall a noble monument of the grandeur of the 
times, the finest church ever I saw entire in Scotland. I then had no 
small reason to think, in that unhappy state, on the many not inconsidera- 
ble services rendered since to the royal familie, for these many years bygone, 
on all occasions, when they stood most in need of friends, which they have 
thought themselves very often obliged to acknowledge by letters yet extant, 
and in a style more like friends than souveraigns; our attachment to them, 
Tiithout any other thanks, having brought upon us considerable losses, and 
among others, that of our all in Cromwell's time ; and left in that condition 
without the least relief except what we found in our own virtue. My father 
was the only man of the Scots nation who had courage enough to protest 
in Parliament against King William's title to the throne, which was lost, 
God knows how : and this at a time when the losses in the cause of the 
royall familie, and their usual gratitude, had scarce left him bread to main- 
tain a numerous familie of eleven children, who had soon after sprung up 
on him, in spite of all which, he had honourably persisted in his principle. 
I say, these things considered, and after being treated as I was, and in that 
unluckie state, when objects appear to men in their true light, as at the 
hour of death, could I be blamed for making some bitter reflections to 
myself, and laughing at the extravagance and im accountable humour of 
men, and the singularitie of my own case, (an exile for the cause of the 
Stuart family), when I ought to have known, that the greatest crime I, or 
my family, could have committed, was persevering, to my own destruction, 
in ser\ing the royal family faithfully, though obstinately, after so great a 
share of depression, and after they had been pleased to doom me and my 
familie to starve. — MS. Memoirs of John, Master of St. Clair > 



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